Weigh stations - RV-Dreams Community Forum

DBEANZ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Weigh stations

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Weigh stations..No. They are for commercial vehicles. If they want you to stop, the sign will say "RV's".

Propane---Yes, if you have propane on board.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Also Just a note:....if it says propane and you are empty "STOP"......I made that mistake years ago having outdated bottles that were vented and open...I assumed empty dead containers didnt count.....needless to say and 500 dollars later lesson was learned the hard way.....

DBEANZ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is this based on state because last fall we stopped in Virginia and the gentleman told us we didn't need to stop?

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

In all my travels I have seen only one or two states that wanted RVs to stop at weigh stations. The signage was clear and easy to spot. I don't remember the states because at that time I wasn't thinking an RV was in my future.

as far as weighing on official scales, I wouldn't. Go to a truck stop with a cat scale and pay the ten bucks for a first weigh and if you want additional weighs it's a buck each.

-- Edited by MarkS on Thursday 19th of September 2013 01:06:15 PM

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

O.k. I'm a bit confused, so what else is new? Mike, are you and others saying some places have weigh stations and the signs say propane? We've never seen that. We could be fined if we didn't stop? I also understood that weigh stations were for commercial vehicles only but if not busy one could get their 5th wheel and truck weighed there?

I need a lesson on this please and thanks. Our 5th wheel has a 97 lb propane tank underneath plus an auxiliary 20 lb tank.

Sherry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I made the mistake going thru the Chesapeake tunnel in Maryland and was stopped on the other side.......Each state has there own rules......when in doubt pull in ....the most they can do is tell you to move along....better safe than sorry!!!

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

FWIW – Short version –

Unless otherwise specifically stated on the sign RV’s do NOT have to stop at weight stations.

Others should comment, but I have never seen a weight station that says “RV’s Must Stop” or words to that effect. This includes Canada.

At Propane Check Stations everyone, RV’s included, MUST Stop.

The Propane Check Stations usually show up around tunnels and the like where they want to know for sure the propane is “off” or the amount you are transporting is below the amount allowed. One such example of this is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

BTW, almost everyone who has their first RV asks this question. Welcome to the club.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
as far as weighing on official scales, I wouldn't. Go to a truck stop with a cat scale and pay the ten bucks for a first weigh and if you want additional weighs it's a buck each.

Extremely good advice on both accounts.

The CAT scales are easy to use and inexpensive. Don't be intimidated. Plus if you have a 5er you can drop the trailer and reweigh your truck and have a good idea with just a little math what not only the trailer weighs, but also the pin weight. Not as good as individual wheel weighing, but much better than no knowing anything weight wise.

Bill

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

To add to Bill's last comment, if the CAT scales are only $1 each for each succeeding weight, one could also get "rough" axle and wheel weights by pulling forward and taking one axle off and weigh again. That is, provided, that the scales operate in such a way that you can do multiple weights.

When we first got our fifth wheel loaded for full-timing, I stopped by a feed store with a truck scales and weighed in that manner. I started with both the truck and trailer on the scales for the first weight and then pulled forward to get the truck's steering axle off the scales and weighed again. Then pulled forward until the truck's rear axle was off and weighed again. Then pulled up with just one axle of the trailer still on the scales and I had axle weights by simply subtracting weights. Backed back on and put the landing gear down and unhooked the truck and raised the nose until the pin box cleared the fifth wheel and I had the trailer's gross vehicular weight. It takes a bit of time that way, so if others are waiting at the CAT scales to weigh, they might get a wee bit irritated.

The feed store idea, if a person can find one, may allow you the time to do all the weights. Also, if one is in farming country where there are grain elevators, those businesses might let one weigh as well. We were fortunate in that the feed store operator let us weigh and never charged us anything.

Terry

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
To add to Bill's last comment, if the CAT scales are only $1 each for each succeeding weight, one could also get "rough" axle and wheel weights by pulling forward and taking one axle off and weigh again. That is, provided, that the scales operate in such a way that you can do multiple weights.

Well, depends on the policy at the truck stop. I’ve seen “reweighs” where you can do the truck as a second weigh without the trailer and they charge you ½ price. I’ve seen full price for every weigh and I’ve seen no charge for the second weigh if done right away. “It depends,” yet again. Got a bunch of weigh slips with all different kinds of prices on them from CAT scale providers.

Nonetheless, best to do it one way or another at a commercial facility, like a CAT scale, or a feed store as Terry suggested, and not at a DOT weigh station.

Bill

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill,
The big five truck stops, (Loves, Pilot, FJ, Petro, TA) all charge a buck for subsequent weighs. In many installations you could squeeze left or right to get side to side weights. All of the CAT scales are multiple pad to give individual axle weights.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
Bill,
The big five truck stops, (Loves, Pilot, FJ, Petro, TA) all charge a buck for subsequent weighs. In many installations you could squeeze left or right to get side to side weights. All of the CAT scales are multiple pad to give individual axle weights.

Mark:

I’m sure you’re correct and good point on the side to side method. I’ve just had different experiences at 4 of the big 5 Never weighed at Petro. All good info.

Bill

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Petro and TA belong to the same mothership and Pilot and FJ are joined at the hip as well. If they ever try to charge more than a buck for a reweigh, call them on it. Tell them you are commercial, tell them you are cranky, tell them you are a truck driver and too stupid to argue with them but you have a bad attitude. And do it with an Indian accent.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
If they ever try to charge more than a buck for a reweigh, call them on it. Tell them you are commercial, tell them you are cranky, tell them you are a truck driver and too stupid to argue with them but you have a bad attitude.

Mark:

Thanks. So that’s the trick. I knew there was something the day I missed a class in driving school. At least the “act stupid” part I got right on shear instinct.

Bill

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Think Bill would have to go a mile or two to "act stupid"!

Sherry

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Regarding stopping at weigh stations.
People in Maryland have posted that they now have to stop at weigh stations with their motor homes.

That is one of the few states I haven't driven my motor home in and I haven't seen any other state that requires motor homes to stop.