I have 2 gas stations around here that have "Cat Certified" weigh scales at them. I have always wondered how much my truck weighs and have always wanted to weigh it but, chicken out when I get around them. I guess because I have never done anything like that before.

Has anyone ever used one of those scales?

How does it work?

They look like they are intended for tractor trailers and it looks like there is a button they reach out of the cab and press. Is that the read out or is there a speaker up there or something?

Need advice!

 

Ok this is a long one...

I called the Pilot station on lunch on 2nd break yesterday. I asked them if I could weigh my pickup truck on their weigh scales. They said sure it was not a problem. I asked, Well, How do I do it?. The woman I was speaking to just said, well just bring it on in. So I figured it would be pretty straight forward...

I got off of work and headed to the ATM . From there I went a got my hair cut so I could break a 20. I got out of there and jammed back up to the Pilot (with the weigh station). I was doing good until I got to the exit ramp. When I saw all the tractor trailers lined up behind the building - I started to get nervous.

I pulled off the highway and told myself I dont care. I am going to do this.

I pulled in the parking lot and followed the signs around behind the building, up the hill and in to the truckers lot. I bet there was 3 or 4 dozen tractor trailers back there. Every pump was full, I started to get intimidated.

I felt like a tiny little tick tack zig zagging back and forth back there. I finally found the weigh station. It was all the way on the other side of the parking lot. I rolled up and all the way down to the speaker box.

I had my windows rolled up as I looked up at it. There were two push buttons marked "Call". I in front of a 4" x 4" square speaker that looked like it was completely covered with a sheet of aluminum. There was no digital read out or any instructions on that great big call box, Just "Call".

I sat there and listened to the exhaust of the truck on the other side of the call box. The stack of his exhaust was just past the edge of the box pointing right at it. He was just sitting there idleing.

What am I supposed to do? Look like a dummy as I open my door in to the pole and lean precariously up to there to push the call button. Then what the heck do I do. Yell "How much do I weigh"?

Do they just tell you how much you weigh? Do they ask you any questions? Because I cant hear that well and with a trucks exhuast blowing right past that speaker. I just sayed screw it. I left and told myself that I would come back today on lunch to see if there were less trucks there today around 11:30.

Besides it would look funny as heck if I took a broom handle over there with me, rolled my window down started batting at the call button with it.

 

don't feel like a lil speck, if you drive nice and slow in those lots, you won't have a problem with the big rigs. As far as a weigh scale/station is concerned,you can go in and talk to the people at the register. I know, to the few i've been to, you press call button, and they'll ask you your name and/or unit number, and they'll tell you when it's been recorded. Then you can go inside and they'll give you a printout showing the weight over your rear axle and the weight over your front axle, and the combined weight... If your totally unsure, you can always go in and ask the cashier. Just be honest, you'll be fine...

 

Have your girlfriend or wife do it for ya'. They usually get all the cooperation they want at a truck stop.

 

I did it , just go into the store and tell them you want to weigh it,they will tell you where to drive up to the last part, and then they will weigh it , it is a little intimdating at first, but it is no problem, mine Crew Cab weighs 5480 with the 20's and 5.7

 

Mine weighed in right around 4770lbs, weight of gas and driver subtracted.

 

Wow that is 700 lbs less than Bull Ram...what differences?

 

many variables including but not limited to:
+/- 200 lbs gasoline (about 6 lbs/gallon)
Driver +/- 200 lbs or more
truck type
i'm very interested in the variations for those that have done this. i wonder how accurate the scales are at the city landfills?

 

The difference is regular cab short bed vs crew cab. Read the signature.

 

Here's a pretty good explanation of how the scale works. I would imagine that you want to split your axles over two of the platforms to give you the most information.

As others have said, just go into the station and talk to the cashier to tell them what you want to do.

Shouldn't be a problem. If you really want to fit in, pay a few buks and take a shower while you are there.

http://catscale.com/how-to-weigh