Truck scales easy to find . . .

Expidia · Jul 21, 2013

Since I got my rig in 2007 I always wanted to weigh it on a truck scale, but never got around to it. My Shoreland'r instruction sheet said 5-7% tongue weight. So I added up the weight label on the trailer, outboard and boat plus equipment gas, battery etc.

Past year I put a hitch on my Wife's 2000 Saab 9-5 6 cyl to take the pressure off the past 6 years of towing with my 2001 Saab 9-5 4 cyl. with 170k on it.

But noticed even though they were the same models and I would switch same the hitch ball attached to the receiver between the two Saabs I noticed her car always had more of an annoying tugging back and forth especially when off the highway roads.

So I said to myself . . . I'm finally going to find a truck scale as I'm sure there is not enough tongue weight. So last week on my way home from a lake I spotted a sign that said "certified truck scales" at a truck stop on I-87 just north of saratoga springs, NY. I pulled onto the scales and unhooked my tow vechicle drove off the scales leaving the rig there alone. You press an intercom button and the cleark says all set and to drive around to the office and pick up the print out. It costs only $10 and took about 5 minutes of my time.

For the past 6 years I had estimated everything to weigh around 1100 lbs and that's what I've been using for the 5-7% tongue weight when I put a bathroom scale with a board across it under the tongue.

To my surprise, the prinout said 1,653 lbs

Man, was I "weigh"off . . (git it? weigh off) . . only by about 33%. So I'm posting this to suggest if you are looking to set the proper tongue weight for towing, don't wait 6 years like I did. Just pull into a truck stop that has scales rather than guestimate

QC · Jul 21, 2013

Re: Truck scales easy to find . . .

Good post. Fellow SAAB lover here

Oh, and before anybody beats him up; SAABs and Volvos both have high tow ratings

matt167 · Jul 21, 2013

Re: Truck scales easy to find . . .

I came close to buying a 9-5 but it was a bit rougher than I thought to be the good deal that I thought it was.. most Junkyards will do this too and they are also certified scales so if you built or rebuilt a trailer, you can use their weight slips to get a hommade trailer titled here in NY. ( under 1k lbs unladen weight. )

Expidia · Jul 22, 2013

Re: Truck scales easy to find . . .

Google Saab. They might be on the verge of bringing everyone back to the Saab plant in Sweden and start producing 9.3's again.
The nail in Saab coffin was when GM bought them! No surprise there

I've had no issues towing. The 4 cyl model actually tows much better than my 6. The 4 is an amazing engine. The 6 is a crappy GM Opel engine. I did not know this when I bought it. But as with towing anything, it's stopping that you are pushing the envelope on. If I ever have to do it again , , I would NEVER buy another trailer without the trailer having it's own brakes.

Once I increase the tongue weight to where it should be I'll have to do this by sliding the rig forward a little. When I do that I'll have to drill another hole for a bolt to keep the crank post from creeping as it's cheap metal ears that hold it onto the trailer beam can't be cranked down tight enough without them starting to bend (thx Shorelande'r). You get what you pay for. I only paid $650 for it in 2007 brand new when I bought my boat.

The problem with my rig is that it has rivets across the back transom edge. When I had a few inches of bunk showing (which made a nice step up) the rivets tore the carpeted end up. If I move it forward a little I'll then have to unstaple the end of the carpet and cut off a few inches of the 2 x 4 and then re staple so the rivets are not on the bunk.

This was another reason I've procrastinated about getting it weighed on the scales. I knew what was going to be involved to increase the tongue weight as I already moved the axle back a hole in the frame years ago.

colbyt · Jul 22, 2013

Re: Truck scales easy to find . . .

Living up to the title of the thread I offering the following.

Most every real truck stop on the Interstate has a set of scales. They offer weigh and reweigh services. That means you can weight the auto and the trailer and then come back across with just the auto within a few minutes. The second trip is greatly reduced in price. Around here the going rate is $8 plus $2 for the second trip. For $10 you get the complete package. They are far easier to find than a feed store or junk yard.

Jonnybbad · Jul 25, 2013

Re: Truck scales easy to find . . .

FYI- Every truck stop scale I've seen is a Cat owned scale. They own it and give the truck stop a small cut of the profits. So.... if you don't know where one is, try this: CAT Scale Locator | CAT Scale or the app: CAT Scale Locator Apps | CAT Scale

oldjeep · Jul 25, 2013