Hi Teach
Also see this post, complete with pics of the scale Henry is talking about
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...-tt-10154.html
You actually want 3 sets of weight readings to get all the numbers if you can, all axle by axle.
1. TV and TT hitched with WD engaged. Front TV axle on 1st scale, rear TV axle on 2nd scale and both TT axles on 3rd scale. Take a weight.
2. TV and TT hitch "without" WD bars on. Don't move the rig yet from 1st weight. Just walk around, crank up tongue jack, unhook the WD bars or let the chains down, let jack back down. Truck then holding the dead weight of the camper. Take a weight. Then hook WD bars back up, drive off scale.
3. TV only. Go unhook the TT in the yard. Drive TV onto scale, front axle on the 1st scale, rear axle on the 2nd scale and nothing on the 3rd scale. Take a weight.
Then drive off and go hook back up and go inside and get your weight slips. From those 3 weight slips you can sort out just about everything as far as WD, tongue weight, axle loads, towing numbers. If you do the 3 weights, we can walk you thru how to add and subtract all those numbers to do a towing axle and WD health check. If you do not get all 3, you will not know your camper loaded tongue weight.
If you think you want to check more WD settings, do a 4th weight and take up one more link and this would be like the 1st set of weight. This allows you to figure out what 1 more chain links give you with regards to moving weight to the front axle.
If you want to check the front and rear TT axle weight split, you can drive slow and split the TT axles between 2 scales.
Some pointers that help.
1. When arriving go inside and talk to the manager that you want to weigh your camper and explain you need 3 or 4 weights and need to make adjustments and "not" leave the yard. Around here at Flying J re-weighs are free and at Pilot they are $1.
2. At Pilot they forced me to come in every time between weighing to pay. It was $8.50 the 1st set and $1.00 for each re-weigh. They made me come back in to pay that $1.00.... Maybe ask if you can just give them the full money in cash before you go to the scale so they do not force you to come in each time. At Flying J they trust ya and $7.50 for all 4 weight sets..... Most truck stops have no clue on weighing a camper like this
3. If you have set of walkie talkies, take them. Give the scale attendant inside one and you have one. Then you can talk driect to them and to make sure it is OK to drive on the scale (they reset it) and when to take the weight.
4. Be courteous to fellow truckers. Let them go first. Go during off hours if possible. May have to ask what are off hours.
5. Fill truck and camper with all gear and full gas when you hit the scales.
6. Plan on you are going to be there a good 1.5 to 2 hours. Make sure DW has a good book to read.... Ask me how I know this.... (Aren't you done yet!, Oh no we are not going there again...
)
7. Have both your truck and TT license plate numbers handy. When they ask for "Truck Number" give then the truck plate number. And when they ask for "Trailer Number" give them the TT plate number. This way you have a certified weight slip of your TV and TT together. Put a copy in the glove box in the truck. If you are ever stopped and questioned you have a weight slip handy. Granted in the private sector they are not after us RV'ers but that certified weight slip with your plate numbers on it may come in handy some day to show you are at or under the manufacture ratings.
Good luck and hope this helps
John