Weighed Your Trailer RV Airstream? How To Use Your Numbers & Cat Scale App 

Just saw your video. I noticed that you compared the trailer GVWR of 5,000 lbs to the trailer axle weight of 4780 lbs. But the total trailer weight is the axle weight PLUS the tongue weight. If the tongue weight was 450 lbs, then the total trailer weight was 4780 + 450 = 5230. So the trailer was overweight by 230 lbs. Another way to get the tongue weight is to weigh the truck alone WITHOUT the hitch installed, as you did. Then weigh the whole rig with the truck attached to the trailer with the spring bars disconnected. I put them in the truck bed near the tailgate. Then subtract the detached truck weight from the attached truck weight. The difference is the tongue (and hitch) weight. Then subtract the hitch weight to get the tongue weight. If the spring bars are engaged, they will transfer some weight from the truck to the trailer axles and will result in an inaccurate tongue weight calculation. Also you didn't mention the trailer axle weight ratings. Some trailers have a GVWR that is higher than the sum of the trailer axle GAWRs. That may not be the case with the Airstreams. Typically trailers should be loaded so that at least 10% of total trailer weight is on the hitch ball. That means no more than 90% of total trailer weight on the trailer axles. So sometimes a trailer GVWR will be equal to SUM OF TRAILER AXLE GAWRS / 0.90. My two trailer axles together are rated at 7000 lbs. The GVWR is 7765. So if the trailer and the axles are loaded to the full load rating, the tongue weight would be 7765 - 7000 = 765 and would be 9.85% of trailer weight. On your trailer, the total weight appeared to be 5230 lbs. With a tongue weight of 450 lbs, that would be 450/5230 = 8.6%. Good job on the video. Here's hoping it'll get more people to weigh their rigs. I've been watching some videos about towing "caravans" in Australia. They have a more rigorous regulatory environment there. The government roadside camper weight checks there find 68% of camper rigs are overweight.

Your knowledge and Cindy’s enthusiasm making these videos are informative and a pleasure to watch. I’m looking forward to the next one on Tuesday.

Great video. Yes it is a bit intimidating at the scales but as someone on the forum once said "You're a paying customer just like truckers". I think your method of using the known information and working the numbers is the way to go. I tried unhitching and remeasuring and got a wonky front axle weight (120 lbs) and couldn't determine tongue weight. Good idea to get the unladen weight for my truck next time I'm at the garbage transfer station.

We tried the CAT Scales after watching your first video. It really was soooo easy! This video really clears up.all the acronyms and numbers! Thanks!

So helpful as I'll be doing all these weights before my first loooong voyage in August. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

OK, great video! Very helpful. I'm definitely bookmarking this one ...

Very informative video! Nice to know my F150 with nearly identical ratings but with the 3.5 Ecoboost, is loaded almost exactly the same. I also scale within 100 lbs of my rear axle capacity yet our GCVWR is barely over 50% capacity.

Great explanation on how to manage weight! Reminder for us to get weighed again!

Great! I learned a different way to use the scales! Great job as always!

Great topic! I am taking our rig up and have it weighed. Thanks for the explanation of the numbers as this will help me greatly understand what our limitations are. Glad to see y’all back at the regular time and place! Safe travels!

FYI: The average weight of an unladen migratory Greater flamingo is 8.8 lbs or 4.4 in Canadian dollars. It is capable of carrying a dwarf tree coconut weighing 1.5 lbs or 680 Canadian cents, if said coconut is properly gripped. The more you know.

Our very first trip towing our Airstream was a 100 mile round trip to the CAT scales in Westley, CA. Everything with our 25FB International with hatch looked right on track We now know exactly how much payload margin in we have with my wife and me in the truck.

I agree about setting up the WD hitch by measuring the wheel well height, but another useful measurement is the front axle without the trailer hitched and with the trailer hitched. Frequently it will be lighter with the triller, leading to weird steering. It should be at least the same as without the trailer but not exceed the max.

Thanks so much for your answer below...... since you are a math wizard (I can tell!) we have some numbers to run by you. As newbies we are trying to work the numbers with the various weights and are concerned about the readings. Here is a listing of our equipment and the weights gathered from the Sherline Tongue Weight Scale and the CAT scale. 2018 1985 with a GVWR of 5,700lbs. And the GAWR is 2,900lbs on each axle We use an Equalizer Hitch The TV is a 2017 Ford F-150 5.0 V8 with a GVWR of 7,000lbs. The TV's GAWR Front is 3,375lbs and the GAWR Rear is 3,800lbs. Our payload max is 2,003lbs. The Sherline tongue weight today was 800lbs At the CAT scale Front axle weight was 2,940lbs. The Rear axle was 4,180lbs. The Trailer axle was 4,960. The Gross weight was 12,080lbs. We are currently at 14% on the hitch weight. Ford lists the GCWR at 14,300lbs. Our GCWR today was 12,080lbs The truck and trailer are level with the Equalizer but we're still over the truck rear axle weight by 380lbs. We also are carrying only 15 gallons of water and 2 (instead of 3) full propane tanks. Hopefully, we gave you all the necessary numbers so you can make sense of this. Thanks a million.

Never would have thought about weighing every year and still think it might be a little over kill BUT thanks to your video, I do see some value in periodically getting it weighed. Well presented y'all. I also love the fact your secure with your numbers and don't feel like you need 1 ton dually.. 😉

Thanks so much! Very helpful! Love y’all!❤️

Very helpful video.

Nice video Rich! Question: is the weight you showed on the trailer axle actually the weight of the trailer? It seems like you would need to add the tongue weight to the axle weight to get the complete trailer weight. What do you think?

That was helpful ... thanks for the video.

You are so specific about going to the same certified CAT scale in PA each time, however you use a totally different scale (is it certified and tested too? It's just for charging for garage) to get the weight of the truck which of course is used in many of your calculations. Seems like doing a weight of the loaded truck on the same scale would be better. I'm sure if you go off hours you can find a place to easily drop the trailer and do a $4 reweigh. Most scales are available 24 hours a day. Most truckers are done by 8 or 9 pm.

You guys are funny! ❤

Whatever!!?? That is so unlike you. Just FYI, the Cat scale web site keeps a history of all of your weigh ins. You can reference them online. Thanks for the video. It’s a confusing topic, but very important to everyone’s safety. Cheers!

I was under the impression that hitch weight plus trailer axle weight make up the trailer GVWR. If your hitch weight is 450 lbs and you add that to the trailer axle weight to determine the GVWR, it appears that you are over the maximum.

Hi there. Thanks for the videos! Very helpful for the newbies that we are. I'm not sure which video it was but we took note of the hitch ball grease you applied. It was pink and had an applicator. Do you remember the name of the product? Or do you have another one you would recommend? Thanks!!

Do you weigh the weight distribution? I have an Anderson WD.

I beg to differ on you comment about not adjusting your WD hitch. You have 660 pounds difference in front and rear axles on your truck.... too much imo. By comparison, I have 80 pounds difference.... another reference point is to have approximately 25% GCVW on each TV axle and 50% on the TT axles.... I’m at 22.5% front axle, 23% rear axle and 54.5% trailer axle....

Thanks for that - good stuff. If your tongue weight is still what it was in your vid on that topic (450), aren’t you a little concerned that your tongue weight is actually a little under 10%?

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Whatever!!?? That is so unlike you. Just FYI, the Cat scale web site keeps a history of all of your weigh ins. You can reference them online. Thanks for the video. It’s a confusing topic, but very important to everyone’s safety. Cheers!