Flying J Scales

[Bob Cochran]

This has probably been discussed before but let me ask again. I need to weight my truck then truck with the 5ER.



I was by Flying J today and looked at the scales but did not have a change to ask any questions so I am asking here. Probably more friendly answers than the fuel desk!!!



Lets see it said stop at stop sign and call fuel desk on phone or CB? Don't have CB installed yet and for that matter there is no stop sign there either. Let me take a stab at how to do this and see if you all agree if you have done it before. By the way there was a video camara at the scales I guess so fule desk can watch you.



Talk to fuel desk and get the phone number so I can call them on the cell phone or is there one at the scale I did not see? Any way get fuel desk on cell phone lets say. And if weighing truck alone ask for a 3 point weigh. Assume then green light comes on then pull forward so only front axle on scale and tell them ready for point 1, red light comes on then when green light is on move forward so whole truck front and rear axle is on scale and ask for point #2. Red light on then when goes to green pull forward until only rear axle is on and ask for point 3. Been talking to fuel desk this whole time on phone. When light goes green again go to fuel desk and pay.



With 5ER connected same process only 4 point. First front axle, then front and rear truck axle together, whole truck and 5ER, finally the 2 trailer axles.



Do you need to try and get each individual 5ER axle? I can only see where I can get both at one time and then the rear one can be gotten if I get the wife out make sure only rear axle on the scale. Or can the weight of the whole 5ER both axles be used and divided by 2, take both weight and subtract rear only? Also I cannot see how I can get the rear truck axle alone when I have the trailer connected to the truck. I will have to do some calculations to get the rear truck axle weight, how?



Sorry for the long post but I hate looking like a dummy. I do that enough as it is without doing so on purpose. :{ What does Flying J charge? Would they let me weight truck and trailer then go drop trailer in their lot and weigh truck if I told them what I was doing? Of course pay twice for weighing!!!



Thanks for the help and am sure others will apprieciate the answers as well. Thanks.

 

[Thomas]

Front axle plus rear axle will equal total truck weight.

 

[dan_gilson]

CAT scales are around here are $8. 50 for a certified weigh. I would expect Flying J's to be around that.



You can find a cat scale directory at their web site: www.catscale.com.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Thomas ~ Your right. I figured since you pull forward to do front axle, then drive all the way across the scale so only the rear is on to get rear axle why not get total on the way. Could make it a 2 point weigh by doing the front then back axles and adding them or front and total and subtract to get rear too.



Thanks for the input. Oo.



Dan probably right on cost; I think I heard sometime or another $7. 50 at Flying j but wanted to confirm. It is not to much pay for the benefit you get. Oo.

 

[Loren]

I've had excellent experiences at my local farm co-op. As long as they are not using their scales themselves, they will ususally put up with my weighing each axle separately, then unhitching the trailer and weighing some more.



I don't want a weight slip, I just write down the readings from the scales, so they don't charge me for a certified weight. It usually amounts to about $10 for all the weights I want.



Loren

 

[cwsoules]

I have used Flying J several times at different locations. I pull up onto the scales and park so that my front truck axel is on one pad, the rear end on another, and the 5er on a third. I too do not have CB so I get out and usually there is a phone of the left hand side where you drive onto the scale. I go there and call them. They weigh you right away, I then pull off and park, go in and pay for my weighing and get my report. I use a previously obtained weight of the truck to compute the weight distribution.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Chuck I did not have much time so did not look at the scale very close. It looked like it was one solid scale. How do you tell each of your axles are on seperate pads?



I suppose if you are not they will tell you to back up or go foward until you are.



I will look for the phone.

 

[EricBu12]

As a Truck driver, I used to use them all the time, Now I drive LTL and pull light loads so... .



Look for the long (70') type scale that looks as it has separate "tiles" on it. There will ususally be a call box at the end of the scale. (Cat Always has these)

Pull all the way on to the scale and make sure each section of your rig is separated on the pads. steer, drive, and trailer. Call the fuel desk by the box, she gets the weight, then you pull off and go inside. The printout will have each section separated and the total gross all in 1 step. They are guaranteed accurate also.



Bob, saw your last post. The Cats or similar will have lines and it is def. able to see where the pads are.



Eric

 

[Bill Stockard]

I've had good luck at the local scrap metal recycling business. They will let me weigh how ever I want if they aren't busy weighing their trucks. Charge me 2 bucks and get certified weight slips.



Like Loren, I've used grain elevator scales when they weren't busy and wrote down the weights off the digital readout. I didn't want a certified weight slip, so no charge.



Bill

 

[Bob Cochran]

Eric ~ Will have to look at the on at the Fly J here on 67th Ave. and I-10 in Phoenix. It was at least 60 or 70 feet but I don't remember it being in segments but will look before pulling on to it. First I weigh the truck then I weigh the trailer and truck combination.



Bill don't have any scrap yards or grain elevators close. Would be easier to us Flying J. Years ago and I mean YEARS I knew of a scale by a cattle feed lot. You could pull on the scale and read the weight in the weigh house building through window. It was fee. That place has been torn down years ago though!!! :{



Thanks you both for the help.

 

[boatpuller]

Don't know about other states but in Washington if the highway scales are closed you can pull in and weigh on them. All the ones I've been to either have the reading facing out the window towards the scale or inside where you can see it thru the window on the door, usually have my wife write down the weights as I move the truck and trailer axles onto the scale.



Just another option(especially if you're as cheap as me )



Caleb

 

[bmoeller]

Same as Loren. At night they turn the display towards the scale so you can see it from outside. Usually do it at night so I won't be in the way. They don't charge anything even if you want a scale ticket.

 

[Bob Cochran]

boatpuller & bmoeller ~ Cannot beat free. The scales like that I have seen they have gates so you cannot get on scale. But will look for some. Thanks.

 

[Fireman]

I use Cat Scales just like Eric said, so I won't repeat what he said. Only add if they don't have a call working call box and you don't have a CB, just trot in there and tell them you want to weigh your truck, you'l have to go in to pay anyway. I usually go in and weigh my truck alone, fully loaded. Then later weigh the truck and trailer fully loaded. This way you can calculate the actual trailer weight and the pin weight or tounge weight. I recently weighed the truck, sonext time I'm towing I'll pull into a convenient truck stop, fill up, and weigh the truck and trailer.

my $. 02
Fireman

 

[Bob Cochran]

Thanks fireman56; there was probably a phone at the J scales just did not see it as well as the scale being split in segments.

 

[rblomquist]

Just used a local Flyin J scale couple of weeks ago to weigh the truck/toyhauler combo. I have no CB and the phone was broke so I walked in and the gal just said to drive on and she would PA broadcast when she had the weight down. Never heard a thing as it turns out their PA was down too! Anyway, one of the "tech" employees walked out of the gararge and told me she had the weight.



I think it was $6. 50 total and it was a big scale with multiple pads. It's easy just as long on you don't put an axle between 2 pads.



If you haven't already sign up for a Flyin J rewards card, you get a penny off per gal on diesel and like 5 cents a gal discount on propane. Not affiliated, blah, blah, blah.

 

[Bob Cochran]

rblomquist ~ Thanks I will get it done soon. Oo.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Well finally got around to weighing the truck. With following results:



Front 4020

Rear 3280

Gross 7300



Since me the wife and Lab was not in it I will add aboutt 200 lbs to fron and rear axle weights to get:



Front 4220

Rear 3480

Gross 7700



After I get the new generator installed the end of March I will work on getting the rig weighed with trailer.



Question though on tire pressures. I have Michlins that are rated as follows:



2778 dual @ 80 PSI

3042 single @ 80 PSI



If I figured it right, I should be round approximately 56 psi front and 25 in each of the rear duals. I have never run that low a pressure in a tire before. Is anyone else? I am currently running 60 front and 50 in each rear dual unloaded. Will lower the pressures as needed for unloaded if I figured it right. Certainly will up the pressures after weighing with 5er. Until I know what theat weight is will up all truck tires to 80 PSI.



Also after weighing the 5er does any one use this on a per tire bases to lower 5er tire pressures? Or do you always run maximum in my case; I believe 85 PSI for mine to keep sidewalls stiff. They are General tires and I have not heard bad or good about them which I think is a good thing.

 

[Todd G]

Bob,



The next time you want to get your truck weighed, go to the city dump. They weigh you when you come and go. Just bring your water bill and I think it's free. I did it last week. 6650lbs with me in it.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Todd G thats great but I needed to know by axle to calculate tire pressure. With 5er hitched the same. Really easy takes less than a minute for axle and gross weight. The scale is segmented and does all axles and gross at the same time. Course it cost $6. 50 but only have to do truck by itself and then truck and 5er combination . Also with this will be able to determine ratio of trailer weight on truck compared to trailer as well as hitch weight with trailer and those ratios. I think not supposed to exceed 20% or there abouts. I have towed this trailer already and tows nice but this will confrim I hope everything within REASONABLE limits.





Hope won't have to do more the twice but with the way wife keeps putting cloths and stuff in 5er may have to do it annually!!!!:--)