Tongue scale

[jsfitter]

Does anyone know where I could buy or rent a scale that measures TH tongue weight herer in the valley? The brand I heard of is the Sherline. I know I can take it to the scales but don't want to do that.

[az350x]

If you live near a small airport (or know someone involved in general aviation), try calling an aircraft maintenance outfit. Some of them have high-capacity scales that they park an aircraft on to weigh it (one under each wheel). If you could find someone willing to let you use one in their parking lot for a few minutes, it would definitely work.

[WildBill]

Where ever you get the scale, make sure you take the weight with the trailer level...AND...with the trail tongue at the height that it sits when hooked to your vehicle.

If you have the time and the scales you should also take the weight of your vehicle at each wheel with and without the trailer hooked up along with the side to side weight of your loaded trailer. The differences can be an eye opener.

[Bee Bob]

Don't think you'll find any locally, but here's the 800 number ------ 1-800-541-0735.

[Outnumbered]

Here. I saw this on another forum. Makes sense. Just BE CAREFUL.

http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/tongueweight.html

[Outnumbered]

quote:The following photo came out of the DrawTite Hitch Owners Guide. With most typical bathroom scales it can measure trailer tongue weights to 900 pounds. It's pretty straight forward on construction and usage. I would make sure the lumber you use is capable of holding the full trailer tongue weight (4X4) and that the trailer is on level ground and the wheels chocked before trying to weigh the tongue. Also make sure that your scale is capable of at least 250 pounds, preferably 300 pounds. You should be able to measure 2 or 3 times that with this setup which should be applicable for most travel trailers up to 28' in length.


http://www.rverscorner.com/pics/tonguescale.gif

[Oldskewl]

quote:Originally posted by Outnumbered

quote:The following photo came out of the DrawTite Hitch Owners Guide. With most typical bathroom scales it can measure trailer tongue weights to 900 pounds. It's pretty straight forward on construction and usage. I would make sure the lumber you use is capable of holding the full trailer tongue weight (4X4) and that the trailer is on level ground and the wheels chocked before trying to weigh the tongue. Also make sure that your scale is capable of at least 250 pounds, preferably 300 pounds. You should be able to measure 2 or 3 times that with this setup which should be applicable for most travel trailers up to 28' in length.




http://www.rverscorner.com/pics/tonguescale.gif



I would think by the time it takes to round up all the materials(Home Depot etc.)it would be faster, easier and cheaper to run down to the truckstop and get a couple weights(with and without trailer).

[Sykoman]

Not at Flying J it wouldn't take you a week just to get out onto 67th Ave that place is a Joke one way in one way out

[Oldskewl]

quote:Originally posted by Sykoman

Not at Flying J it wouldn't take you a week just to get out onto 67th Ave that place is a Joke one way in one way out

Use the scale at Danny's across the street.They have put a traffic light at the second exit.I was just down there yesterday.For those on the east side of town,check the new Loves at I-10 out by Firebird.I don't remember the streets out there but Loves might have a scale.

[Cletus]

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

quote:Originally posted by Outnumbered

quote:The following photo came out of the DrawTite Hitch Owners Guide. With most typical bathroom scales it can measure trailer tongue weights to 900 pounds. It's pretty straight forward on construction and usage. I would make sure the lumber you use is capable of holding the full trailer tongue weight (4X4) and that the trailer is on level ground and the wheels chocked before trying to weigh the tongue. Also make sure that your scale is capable of at least 250 pounds, preferably 300 pounds. You should be able to measure 2 or 3 times that with this setup which should be applicable for most travel trailers up to 28' in length.




http://www.rverscorner.com/pics/tonguescale.gif



I would think by the time it takes to round up all the materials(Home Depot etc.)it would be faster, easier and cheaper to run down to the truckstop and get a couple weights(with and without trailer).


Faster and cheaper??? No way. I have all of the stuff at home already. The only thing most people may not have is the pipe, but most people generally go to Home Depot or Lowe's a couple of time a month (if I'm working on a project, it could be a couple of times a "day" depending on how many mistakes I make[:0]).

Thanks for posting the picture. I'm interested in my tongue weight as well.

[V10man]

I was able to weigh my new trailer at Red Mountain Mining on Power Rd. north of Thomas. Truck alone then truck with trailer attatched but only truck on the scale. Finally truck and trailer on scale. Subtract the solo truck weitght from the truck and trailer weight to find the tongue weight.

[Oldskewl]

quote:Originally posted by Cletus

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

quote:Originally posted by Outnumbered

quote:The following photo came out of the DrawTite Hitch Owners Guide. With most typical bathroom scales it can measure trailer tongue weights to 900 pounds. It's pretty straight forward on construction and usage. I would make sure the lumber you use is capable of holding the full trailer tongue weight (4X4) and that the trailer is on level ground and the wheels chocked before trying to weigh the tongue. Also make sure that your scale is capable of at least 250 pounds, preferably 300 pounds. You should be able to measure 2 or 3 times that with this setup which should be applicable for most travel trailers up to 28' in length.




http://www.rverscorner.com/pics/tonguescale.gif



I would think by the time it takes to round up all the materials(Home Depot etc.)it would be faster, easier and cheaper to run down to the truckstop and get a couple weights(with and without trailer).


Faster and cheaper??? No way. I have all of the stuff at home already. The only thing most people may not have is the pipe, but most people generally go to Home Depot or Lowe's a couple of time a month (if I'm working on a project, it could be a couple of times a "day" depending on how many mistakes I make[:0]).

Thanks for posting the picture. I'm interested in my tongue weight as well.

I don't want to sit and argue with you Cletus,I would just prefer a Certified CAT Scale.I'll make you a deal though,you build your contraption,take a pic of it weighing your trailer,post it and the weights you came up with,then take it down to Dannys and get a certified weight on it.I'll pay for the CAT scale weight just to see how close this thing is.....And you've got that in writing.

[Cletus]

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

quote:Originally posted by Cletus

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

quote:Originally posted by Outnumbered

[quote].

I would think by the time it takes to round up all the materials(Home Depot etc.)it would be faster, easier and cheaper to run down to the truckstop and get a couple weights(with and without trailer).


Faster and cheaper??? No way. I have all of the stuff at home already. The only thing most people may not have is the pipe, but most people generally go to Home Depot or Lowe's a couple of time a month (if I'm working on a project, it could be a couple of times a "day" depending on how many mistakes I make[:0]).

Thanks for posting the picture. I'm interested in my tongue weight as well.

I don't want to sit and argue with you Cletus,I would just prefer a Certified CAT Scale.I'll make you a deal though,you build your contraption,take a pic of it weighing your trailer,post it and the weights you came up with,then take it down to Dannys and get a certified weight on it.I'll pay for the CAT scale weight just to see how close this thing is.....And you've got that in writing.


MrBanshee, You're right about one thing, but that's all.....you're not arguing with me....I'm telling you the way it is with me[:0]

I'm interested in seeing how much my trailer's tongue weight is though. No need to go to Danny's or anyplace else. The diagram above will work. I'll post a picture of that.

[jsfitter]

The theory is correct on using the bathroom scale, but it seems to me I am not going to set a $30K trailer on a pipe, bathroom scale and a piece of wood to get the tongue weight. Also I see this as being a little dangerous. I think I will go down to Loves and have them do it. Thanks for all the input though.

[Oldskewl]

I'm still waitin on Cletus's pics.Pretty sure I coulda weighed my trailer at Dannys more than a few times by now.Gotta love the electronic age.

[Oldskewl]

Saw flipper posted this in another thread........makes sense to me. [:0]
http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/MrBanshee/200622325649_redneck_scale.jpg

[Cletus]

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

I'm still waitin on Cletus's pics.Pretty sure I coulda weighed my trailer at Dannys more than a few times by now.Gotta love the electronic age.


OK.....OK.....OK.....I'll try to get my trailer out this weekend and try to get pics on this thread by Sunday night. (My life got in the way of this silly stuff.)

PS....I'll try to weigh it on level surface or make sure the car it rolls into is a POS[:0]

[Cletus]

quote:Originally posted by Cletus

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

I'm still waitin on Cletus's pics.Pretty sure I coulda weighed my trailer at Dannys more than a few times by now.Gotta love the electronic age.


OK.....OK.....OK.....I'll try to get my trailer out this weekend and try to get pics on this thread by Sunday night. (My life got in the way of this silly stuff.)

PS....I'll try to weigh it on level surface or make sure the car it rolls into is a POS[:0]


Sorry guys and gals.....I'm a little late....but here they are. It took me about 10 minutes to gather the stuff (I had everything around the house). Then about 10 minutes to do the two different shots. Looks like the weights are about 6 lbs different (118 x 2 = 236.....and 242). This is about 2.5% error which could be attributed to not exact measurements. Anyway, it works out real close.


The layout

http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/2006321370_P1010104.JPG




The measurements (12 inches from pipe to trailer jack stand....24 inches from jack stand to center of scale

http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/20063213940_P1010105.JPG




View of scale and tongue with board across bricks to scale

http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/20063214038_P1010106.JPG



Closeup of scale with board across bricks to scale

http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/20063214126_P1010107.JPG



Front view of jack stand directly on scale

http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/20063214345_P1010109.JPG



Down view of jack stand directly on scale with reading

http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/20063214853_P1010108.JPG




View of level test area with no expensive vehicles behind test trailer
http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/cletus/20063214634_P1010110.JPG

[Oldskewl]

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAA.Good job Cletus.But the pic I was looking for was the trailer into the drivers seat of a Mercedes........Wait a minute,what's that door on the left in the last pic [:0]

[Cletus]

quote:Originally posted by MrBanshee

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAA.Good job Cletus.But the pic I was looking for was the trailer into the drivers seat of a Mercedes........Wait a minute,what's that door on the left in the last pic [:0]


Mr. Banshee....Thanks!!

That door is off of a 1953 Chevy Stepside Pickup truck my son and I are "working" (or not working) on. Another project that we hope to get back to someday:D