New scale for tongue weight

[BC Paul]

Some of you may be interested in this product.

Simple Scale Saves Lives - PickupTrucks.com News

Cheers,

[carlkeigley]

That was really clever.
And they were right, "Why didn't I think of that?"

[cpaharley2008]

Better link WeighSafe Hitches

[hotfishtacos]

I like the concept but the gauge face exposed to the sun and the elements will not last. I would modify the design to recess the gauge into a deeper hole and then add a seal cap. It would also help to face the gauge sideways so the hole won't hold water.

Steve

[Bob Miller]

I suppose that this is an excellent idea for trailers that have variable tongue loads, such as shown in the video. But for RV's it might prove a bit redundant after the first 2-3 uses. Has anyone seen a price yet.

An Aside: I really question those numbers, at least as they pertain to this device. That's 9 fatalities a week and 38 injuries a day.... Sounds a bit high to blame them all on towing errors, unless they are also counting every semi-truck accident as well, and aren't deleting the driver error caused accidents as in the case of the three semi's and three cars that got tangled up in Pasadena this morning (1 fatality, 3 injuries)
I like good ideas such as this one, I just don't care for over-hype scare tactics.

[Frederick L. Simson]

That's a pretty coarse increment for trailers in our size class. The marks are in 50 pound increments which may or may not be helpful.

[honda03842]

More stuff. How does one beat the conventional bathroom scale. Takes minutes and measures in pounds.

[Mike Magee]

I hope they will be priced affordably. This would be a very handy item.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

I suppose that this is an excellent idea for trailers that have variable tongue loads, such as shown in the video. But for RV's it might prove a bit redundant after the first 2-3 uses. Has anyone seen a price yet.

An Aside: I really question those numbers, at least as they pertain to this device. That's 9 fatalities a week and 38 injuries a day.... Sounds a bit high to blame them all on towing errors, unless they are also counting every semi-truck accident as well, and aren't deleting the driver error caused accidents as in the case of the three semi's and three cars that got tangled up in Pasadena this morning (1 fatality, 3 injuries)
I like good ideas such as this one, I just don't care for over-hype scare tactics.

I agree with you Bob, it does sound high, but then maybe they mean the whole world and for all time? Even then...

But wait... the website says something about...
"Accidents involving towing equipment between 1988-2011"
Then it still doesn't say if that was just one small town or the whole world.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by honda03842

More stuff. How does one beat the conventional bathroom scale. Takes minutes and measures in pounds.

That may work for some fiberglass trailers, but most bathroom scales only go to 300#.
I've been to WalMart, and from what I've seen there's a lot of folks who would have to go to the fulcrum method just to weigh themselves!
(Oh! And maybe a mirror on a stick)

[honda03842]

Floyd,

There I go thinking everyone has a trailer tongue weight like mine. You are certainly correct. I looked into the cost and the statement was that they would cost from $100-400 depending on load range.

I guess I'll stick with my $7.54 Walmart multi-purpose, analog scale good to 300 pounds.

[Jon Vermilye]

Originally Posted by floyd

That may work for some fiberglass trailers, but most bathroom scales only go to 300#.
I've been to WalMart, and from what I've seen there's a lot of folks who would have to go to the fulcrum method just to weigh themselves!
(Oh! And maybe a mirror on a stick)

While i used the fulcrum method in the past, since we as a society are getting heavier, you might want to recheck the scales available at Walmart. Some now top out at 450 lbs.

[honda03842]

Fortunately for me our Scamp 16 tongue weight is light, about 200 lbs. We were also able to use it on the Casita 16 where the tongue weight was about 240-260.

Certainly the Casita 17 and many Escapes would exceed the typical bathroom scale and possibly even the Walmarts extended range 450 lb weight scales.

Ginny now has me doing 'Planks' seeking to get to 3 minutes from 1 minute, maybe I'll eventually need even less scale.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

While i used the fulcrum method in the past, since we as a society are getting heavier, you might want to recheck the scales available at Walmart. Some now top out at 450 lbs.

Hey that's nice to know , I'll check it out...
For trailer tongue weights that is, Hope that's what you meant!

[MCDenny]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

I like good ideas such as this one, I just don't care for over-hype scare tactics.

Fear sells. It's the emotional basis of nearly every advertisement.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by MCDenny

Fear sells. It's the emotional basis of nearly every advertisement.

Or sex.

[Bob Miller]

Does fear of sex sell even better? NOT.

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by floyd

That may work for some fiberglass trailers, but most bathroom scales only go to 300#.
I've been to WalMart, and from what I've seen there's a lot of folks who would have to go to the fulcrum method just to weigh themselves!
(Oh! And maybe a mirror on a stick)

I can picture it now. Driving down the street and seeing folks climbing up onto their hitches to weigh themselves...