Smart Weigh vs Cat Scales

[Riverbug]

I guess at this point, I'll stick to CAT scales going forward. It's $80 for Smart Weigh this year and a bit of a drive out of the way (for me at least). Now that it is done and I know I'm pretty balanced side to side (assuming I can count on the scales) I can run through CAT scales much cheaper and faster when I do want to check my weight and how it is distributed.

I appreciate all the responses. I won't be touting Smart Weigh going forward as I have in the past. I won't bash them either though. I think that it is still very good for new RV owners because they spend time explaining what all the weights mean, the importance of them, whether or not your equalizer hitch (for travel trailers) is set up correctly, etc., etc.. So it can be a good education for people who don't know...

 

[lorend]

On our annual trip to FL we pass many DOT scales in each state both open and closed. I've often wondered if I could pull in as I don't remember ever seeing gates or cables across the off - on ramps. Are all DOT scales available for anyone to use when they are not open for truckers? Also, when they are open and actively weighing trucks, can I get in line and get weighed?

As stated by others, you don't want to get in the way when the scale is open. I have pulled on scales on many occasions when they have been closed to weigh. Being a commercial driver for many years I have had the opportunity to talk with many state DOT and patrol officers and have asked about scale use when closed and have never had anyone tell me that it was an issue. In the Pacific Northwest we have two different scale types. The major one are like offices buildings and others are like a little shack on the side of the road on the state highways. The little shack style usually leave a window cover open so that you can see the scale numbers. Also using the scales in the out of the way places is easier and usually nobody else around.

 

[TomPanning]

Since the Escapees Smart Weigh is not terribly accurate, if you wanted to know the side-to-side balance of your trailer, I wonder if you could drive on a CAT scale so that one side of your trailer is off the scale? You’d have to weigh twice (one for each side), but that’s still cheaper than the Smart Weigh.

 

[Second Chance]

Since the Escapees Smart Weigh is not terribly accurate, if you wanted to know the side-to-side balance of your trailer, I wonder if you could drive on a CAT scale so that one side of your trailer is off the scale? You’d have to weigh twice (one for each side), but that’s still cheaper than the Smart Weigh.

Yes - I've read posts by folks who have done that. Make sure you're not on the CAT scale at a busy time when commercial truckers are needing to use it.

Rob

 

[Riverbug]

Since the Escapees Smart Weigh is not terribly accurate, if you wanted to know the side-to-side balance of your trailer, I wonder if you could drive on a CAT scale so that one side of your trailer is off the scale? You’d have to weigh twice (one for each side), but that’s still cheaper than the Smart Weigh.

That does seem like a good alternative provided there's enough room to get off the side of the scale.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Most of the CAT scales I've been on are raised above the surface, and that would certainly affect the accuracy of the weighing.

 

[jbwilliams25]

OK... information from two people over two days of communication with the Escapees Smart Weigh program and finding the scales on the manufacturer's web site:

"The scales are Haenni WL 101 scales.

Accuracy is:
+ or- 50 lbs up to 2500 lbs
+or - 100 lbs up to 10000 lbs.
The scales are calibrated every year."

Since these scales are single-wheel (or wheel location in the case of dualies)scales, these margins of error could be multiplied by the number of wheels - four for two axle trailers, six for three axle trailers, and four (locations) for the tow vehicle (unless you're towing with a non-singled class 7 or 8 tractor). Though the errors might average out, if the scales are measuring either high or low the error(s) would be additive. It pains me to say it, but my opinion of the Escapees Smart Weigh program just went through the floor and, personally, I don't consider it useful for folks with smaller rigs or who are close to the payload limit on their tow vehicles. Again, my opinion only, but these numbers would be good only for getting a ballpark for tire inflation pressures. No business would ever pay a carrier weight-based freight charges based on scales with this kind of margin of error, either.

There are three scale pads with the CAT scales: steer, drive and trailer which puts multiple wheels on the same scale pad. The CAT scales are also much more accurate.

Rob

Would Smart weigh be easier if I’m trying to figure out if I have too much weight on my door side of my 5th wheel vs the driver side? When I bought my Grand Design, the spec sheet reported the trailer was heavier on the refrigerator side. I tried to compensate while loading and I was very wrong as I had too much weight on the door side. At the Cat Scales, I found giant poles on either side of the scale that prevented me from driving half on the scale to get the reading I was looking for. So, I’m thinking the Smart scale might be of some benefit. The problem is, they usually not close to where I’m traveling.

 

[Second Chance]

Would Smart weigh be easier if I’m trying to figure out if I have too much weight on my door side of my 5th wheel vs the driver side? When I bought my Grand Design, the spec sheet reported the trailer was heavier on the refrigerator side. I tried to compensate while loading and I was very wrong as I had too much weight on the door side. At the Cat Scales, I found giant poles on either side of the scale that prevented me from driving half on the scale to get the reading I was looking for. So, I’m thinking the Smart scale might be of some benefit. The problem is, they usually not close to where I’m traveling.

A number of folks have obtained side-to-side weights by putting one side on the CAT scales and then the other (two passes). Don't do this while truckers are in line to weigh, though. It's almost guaranteed that your rig will be heavier on one side than the other. On some of the fifth wheels, there's a 700 lb. difference.

Rob

 

[jbwilliams25]

A number of folks have obtained side-to-side weights by putting one side on the CAT scales and then the other (two passes). Don't do this while truckers are in line to weigh, though. It's almost guaranteed that your rig will be heavier on one side than the other. On some of the fifth wheels, there's a 700 lb. difference.

Rob

Thanks Rob, I’ll try that next time I scale it. Those poles scared me.

 

[ajg617]

Ours came from the factory 600lbs heavier on the off-door kitchen side and that's before putting anything in the cabinets like dishes, pots & pans, appliances, or in the pantry and refrig. Nothing I can do to make up that discrepancy as any weight on the door-side would be sitting on the slide-out floor which I don't think is a good idea. Our last trip we scaled the trailer at over 15,600lbs so I can only imagine how heavy we were on the street side.