The most reliable places to get your trailer weighed are typically certified truck scales, often found at truck stops, weigh stations along highways, agricultural supply stores, and some recycling centers. Ensuring accurate trailer weight is crucial for safe towing, legal compliance, and preventing damage to your vehicle and trailer.
Why Weigh Your Trailer?
Knowing your trailer’s weight, both empty (tare weight) and loaded (gross weight), is paramount for several reasons:
- Safety: Overloading a trailer or exceeding your tow vehicle’s capacity can lead to serious accidents due to reduced braking ability, compromised steering, and potential structural failure of the trailer.
- Legal Compliance: State and federal regulations often specify maximum weight limits for trailers. Operating overweight can result in hefty fines, impoundment, and even legal liabilities in case of an accident.
- Preventing Damage: Exceeding the trailer’s weight rating can damage its axles, tires, springs, and frame, leading to costly repairs and premature failure.
- Proper Weight Distribution: Weighing allows you to understand how the weight is distributed across the trailer axles. Uneven weight distribution can cause sway, instability, and increased wear on tires and suspension components.
- Insurance Coverage: In the event of an accident, insurance companies may investigate the trailer’s weight. If you’re operating overweight, your claim could be denied.
Where to Find a Reliable Weighing Station
Several types of facilities offer trailer weighing services. Each has its pros and cons:
Truck Stops with Certified Scales
- Pros: Typically open 24/7, easily accessible from major highways, and equipped with certified truck scales that are regularly calibrated for accuracy. Experienced personnel often available to assist.
- Cons: Can be busy, especially during peak trucking hours. May involve a small fee for the weighing service.
Weigh Stations Along Highways
- Pros: Often free of charge (though sometimes reserved for commercial vehicles). Provide a convenient option if you’re already traveling.
- Cons: May not be open to the public. Some only weigh vehicles traveling in one direction. Accuracy can vary.
Agricultural Supply Stores and Grain Elevators
- Pros: Commonly used for weighing agricultural equipment and materials. Can be a good option if you’re hauling livestock or agricultural products. Usually offer friendly service and expertise related to heavy loads.
- Cons: May not be open outside of regular business hours. Scales may not be as frequently calibrated as those at truck stops.
Recycling Centers and Scrap Yards
- Pros: Often equipped with scales for weighing incoming materials. Can be a cost-effective option.
- Cons: Scale accuracy may not be a top priority, as they’re primarily concerned with quantity rather than precise weight.
Portable Weighing Scales (Use with Caution)
- Pros: Offer the convenience of weighing your trailer at home or on-site.
- Cons: Can be expensive to purchase, and accuracy can be questionable unless they are certified and regularly calibrated. Requires a level surface for accurate readings. Do not rely on non-certified portable scales for legal compliance.
How to Weigh Your Trailer Properly
Follow these steps to ensure accurate weight measurements:
- Find a Level Surface: Park the trailer on a level surface to ensure accurate weight distribution.
- Disconnect from the Tow Vehicle: Disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle to get a true reading of the trailer’s weight.
- Weigh Each Axle Separately (if possible): Some scales allow you to weigh each axle individually, providing valuable data on weight distribution.
- Note the Tare Weight: Weigh the trailer when it’s empty to establish the tare weight. This information is crucial for determining how much cargo you can safely load.
- Weigh the Gross Weight: Weigh the trailer after it’s loaded to determine the gross weight.
- Compare to Ratings: Compare the actual weight to the trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), axle weight ratings, and tire weight ratings to ensure you’re within safe and legal limits.
- Adjust Load if Necessary: If the trailer is overloaded, redistribute the load or remove excess weight to comply with ratings.
Understanding Weight Terminology
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum permissible weight of the trailer, including the trailer itself and its cargo.
- Tare Weight: The weight of the empty trailer, without any cargo.
- Gross Weight: The total weight of the trailer, including the trailer itself and its cargo.
- Tongue Weight: The weight exerted by the trailer’s tongue on the tow vehicle’s hitch. Proper tongue weight (typically 10-15% of the gross weight) is crucial for safe towing.
- Axle Weight Rating: The maximum weight that each axle is designed to support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much does it typically cost to weigh a trailer at a truck stop?
The cost to weigh a trailer at a truck stop typically ranges from $10 to $20. Some truck stops offer discounts or free weighing services to customers who purchase fuel or other services. Call ahead to confirm pricing.
2. Can I weigh my trailer at a public weigh station even if I’m not a commercial vehicle?
Some public weigh stations are open to non-commercial vehicles, but it’s best to check with the specific weigh station beforehand. Many are primarily designed for commercial traffic and may not be easily accessible or suitable for smaller trailers.
3. How do I find the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of my trailer?
The GVWR is usually listed on a sticker or plate attached to the trailer, typically near the tongue or on the side of the trailer. It may also be found in the trailer’s owner’s manual.
4. What happens if I’m caught towing an overweight trailer?
The consequences of towing an overweight trailer can vary depending on state and local laws. You could face fines, be required to offload cargo to reduce the weight, and potentially have your trailer impounded. In some cases, an overweight trailer could void your insurance coverage in the event of an accident.
5. How often should I weigh my trailer?
It’s advisable to weigh your trailer:
- Whenever you change the type or distribution of cargo.
- Before embarking on a long trip.
- If you suspect the trailer may be overloaded.
- At least annually, as a general safety precaution.
6. What is the ideal tongue weight for my trailer?
The ideal tongue weight is typically 10-15% of the trailer’s gross weight. Insufficient tongue weight can cause trailer sway, while excessive tongue weight can overload the rear axle of the tow vehicle.
7. Can improper tire inflation affect the accuracy of a trailer weighing?
Yes, improper tire inflation can affect the accuracy of a trailer weighing. Underinflated tires can cause the trailer to sit lower, potentially skewing the weight distribution and affecting the overall weight reading. Always ensure tires are inflated to the recommended pressure before weighing.
8. How can I improve weight distribution on my trailer?
To improve weight distribution:
- Place heavier items over or slightly ahead of the trailer’s axle(s).
- Distribute weight evenly from side to side.
- Avoid concentrating weight at the front or rear of the trailer.
9. Are there apps that can help estimate trailer weight?
While some apps claim to estimate trailer weight based on cargo type and volume, these are generally unreliable and should not be used in place of a certified scale. These apps can provide a very rough estimate, but they lack the precision needed for safe and legal towing.
10. What should I do if the weight on my trailer axles exceeds the axle weight rating?
If the weight on your trailer axles exceeds the axle weight rating, you must reduce the weight on the axles. This can be achieved by:
- Removing cargo.
- Redistributing the load to shift weight away from the overloaded axles.
- Upgrading to axles with a higher weight rating (if feasible).
11. How do I choose the right tow vehicle for my trailer?
When choosing a tow vehicle, consider the following:
- The vehicle’s towing capacity, as specified by the manufacturer.
- The vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), which is the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle and trailer combined.
- The vehicle’s payload capacity, which is the maximum weight the vehicle can carry, including passengers, cargo, and tongue weight.
12. Where can I find certified scales that are regularly calibrated?
Certified scales are typically found at reputable truck stops, weigh stations, and agricultural supply stores. Look for scales that have a current certification sticker or certificate of calibration displayed. You can also inquire about the scale’s calibration schedule. Some states maintain online directories of certified scales.