How to use a CAT scale to weigh your camper or trailer to get the proper and actual tongue weight

A great way to figure out your camper or trailer's tongue weight and the safe range for that weight is to use a CAT Certified Scale, located at many truck stops. Proper tongue weight is essential to help prevent dangerous trailer sway that can lead to a major crash, destroying your camper and even your tow vehicle. However, it can be a bit scary to roll up into an area you're not familiar with and use a piece of machinery you've never even seen up close. Follow along with me as I make my first foray into a local Love's truck stop and see how easy and quick it is to use a CAT scale. I also show you how to use the numbers generated to calculate your trailer or camper's true gross weight and get that all-important tongue weight.
[Weigh My Truck app, CAT Scale Locator app, sway prevention, trailer towing, camper towing]

[@revgordon91]

Ok, i have to admit, that's a much better way of getting the tongue weight of trailers using a CAT Scale! I was doing the math in a totally different way!

[@shagohodsin1562]

Thank you so much for this! im just getting into light hauling and towing, but i really like having numbers to verify what im doing. I also have a bit of anxiety, so knowing what i need to do before hand is a huge help. This was fantastic and will help me out a lot going forward!

[@greyhawk5990]

Great job, Cliff! This was most helpful.

[@millvalleynorthernrailroad2998]

Thank you for making thus video, I found it very helpful.

[@1983thunderbird]

Excellent video , thanks for taking the time to post this!!!

[@derekkennon7839]

Great video. About to buy a trvel trailer and this helped to give me the confidence to find the tounge weight. When will your alternative method vide be posted. Subscribed

[@shawk904]

Well done!

[@CreachterZ]

If anyone gives you grief at the scales, tell them you’re doing this for towing your Porsche. 😊

[@John.Mann.1941]

Did you have just a simple hitch, as would be suitable for a light utility trailer, or did you have a proper weight distribution hight with sway control? You should have the latter for a heavy trailer.

[@CliffsGarage]

Yes, it's a full-blown WD hitch.

[@davidhjortnaes2000]

You stated at approximately 12:45 that you were going to do another video of alternate methods of weighing your truck and trailer. Is that video still in production? Thank you

[@m9j16]

did he post it yet?

[@NellieAnnTresch]

At my local QuikTrip they told me to "simply put the towing vehicle on the front pad and the travel trailer on the second pad". They gave me a printout of "axle 1" (called it the vehicle) and "axle 2" (trailer). When I asked about the weight off of the trailer by being attached to vehicle, they looked like I was crazy! Said no need to reweigh without tralier. Are they right? I'm a little clueless when it comes to this stuff.

[@fantsteele3416]

They were wrong. Do it as done in the video for the best accuracy and to check your distribution of weight. A poorly loaded trailer can sway and in extreme cases flip your tow vehicle. Spend another $4.