Trailer Weights in the Real World

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

where is a good place to have a trailer weighed?

As a general rule, your State or County Department of Agriculture has a Division or Bureau of Weights and Measures. These are the government officials who are tasked with inspection and certification of all weighing devices used in commerce.

Some states have scale locators listed on their websites. Here is the site for California:
California Department of Food and Agriculture - Division of Measurement Standards - Public Scales Listing

I attempted a web search for Michigan and was unsuccessful at locating such a listing. I recommend contacting your local County Agriculture Department and pose your inquiry there. Another reference would be the Telephone Directory. Under the "Scales" listing, look for a sub-category for either "Public Scales" or "Scales; Public Weighers"

A scale for weighing vehicles is an expensive item to own. To purchase a Vehicle Scale and have it installed on your property costs between $50,000.00 and $75,000.00 depending on whether is flush with the surface (in a concrete Pit) or Above Ground (on a concrete Slab) and the peripheral equipment attached to it. Annual licensing and maintenance costs can run in the thousands of dollars. Many businesses that need to have one, open it to the public as an additional source of income. They can include:

• MOVING AND STORAGE
• RECYCLING YARD
• FARM & GARDEN SUPPLY
• AUTO WRECKING
• TRUCK STOP
• WHOLESALE PRODUCE
• CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS/ROCK AND GRAVEL

[Thomas G.]

Fredrick, thank for the complete answer. It seems like one could use truck scales that were unmanned years ago for free by peering in the window, but that may all be history.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

Fredrick, thank for the complete answer. It seems like one could use truck scales that were unmanned years ago for free by peering in the window, but that may all be history.

Oregon still has a bunch of these available all over the state. Only you don't need to get out of the tug to check. They have lit digital signs. Humm, I should have added that to the "What does your state have" topic....

[Roger Kimble]

You can go to a truck stop and wight it, for a small fee, I-94 @ 197 exit

[artspe]

I've never seen any actual weights on the EggCamper. Has anyone ever weighed their's?

Art

[BCDave]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Oregon still has a bunch of these available all over the state. Only you don't need to get out of the tug to check. They have lit digital signs. Humm, I should have added that to the "What does your state have" topic....

Same here in BC. Truck scales are illuminated digital read outs and they are still "on" even when scales are "closed".

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

They have lit digital signs.

A.K.A. "Remote Display", it is a secondary readout connected to the main indicator inside the scale-house via RS-232 communication cable.

[RRIZZO]

You weighed our S.O.B. "Cardinal" @ Casitas in 2010. I dont remember the weight but I have the paper you gave us with all my other trailer papers. Thank you for providing this service to us all.

[Ray N]

Originally Posted by artspe

I've never seen any actual weights on the EggCamper. Has anyone ever weighed their's?
Art

Good question.

[Mark and Tara]

Oh this is great informatoin and very informative. Of course, factories must have weighted differently by weighting raw materials at RV. Car companies, they do have scales at each tires similar to what you do, Fredrick. Good thinking! Say if I am to manufacture, I will have to do both dry and actual weight and get rating as well by using the same method as Fredrick uses. But remember, today people want LIGHT LIGHT weight on about everything. For airplanes, I seen they use elevator floor size scales on EACH tires attached on the commerical planes. For transmission for automobiles, weight EACH part. So, everyone is different. Good job Fredrick!

[D Davis]

Thank you Fred for all of your really hard valuable work! I had no Idea what mine weighed when I bought it. The title said 2000 lbs, I did not think that was right.
Again, Thank you!

[Mouse]

I just weighed Mouse for the first time. She is set up for camping next week. I'm going out between the rain drops next Tuesday and Wednesday to Half Moon Bay to try out my latest mods and see if any others need to be done before I travel to Aqua Caliente in April.

So she had everything in her that I thought I would need including food, wine, pots and pans and my folding bike. But no water in the water tanks and I will refill the propane tank before I go.

I was surprised at how heavy she was. 1680 pounds! I thought she would come in under 1500.

Here are the numbers in the order I've seen in other posts:

# - 13' - U Haul - CT13 - 1440 - 240 - 1680

I have since reduced the tongue weight by moving the spare tire to the back bumper.

[Deb & Chuck]

Frederick thank you for posting the trailer weights. I saw the Bigfoot 5th wheel we brought one year it was 5060 total weight. I hope more people look at the list to get a better idea of weight and the proper tow vehicle.
Chuck

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Mouse

I just weighed Mouse for the first time.

I was surprised at how heavy she was. 1680 pounds! I thought she would come in under 1500.

Here are the numbers in the order I've seen in other posts:

#14 - 13' - U Haul - CT13 - 1440 - 240 - 1680

I've updated the data, and you are #14 on the list