Trailer weighing

[Slowpoke]

I'd like to weigh an old pop up tent trailer, but the license expired so I can't take it to a commercial weigh station. The body is about 8' long. Any ideas how I can do it at home?

 

[ARCADIAINC]

Put it on a bigger trailer that has a tag.

 

[ARCADIAINC]

Sorry-misread your post.

 

[ARCADIAINC]

The link below is not what you are looking for. However It may give you some ideas. The only other way I know would be to set a bathroom scale under each wheel and one under the tongue support and add together. The problem is you need three sets of bathroom scales.

http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Weigh.html

 

[ericlb]

slowpoke i weigh trailers on a comercial scale all the time, they must be weighed in this state to get them licenced, so when i see them
they have no plates, so just pull the plate off it, take it to a scale and tell the weighmaster your needing a weight to get it licenced, pull it across the scale, when signaled to leave go unhook it and reweigh the tow vehicle, the difference it the trailer weight

 

[Leroy]

That would not give you a legal weight for a tag tho, you need a comercial weigh station that is licenced to punch the weight on a weigh slip provided by the state and to take a trailer for that you do not need the tag, if you pick up that slip from the DMV and have it in your posession if you are questioned about no tags there should be no problems.

 

[Bret4207]

Some states, NY for instance, allow and unregistered trailer to be towed to a facility for weighing. Another option might be to take the VIN to your DMV and see if they can run a history on it to determine previous registered weight.

 

[Polish Mike]

You need either a title or a previous registration to license it, and either of those will already have the weight written on them, no ?

 

[Slowpoke]

Don't have either one. I got it for free for removing it. Found on Freecycle.

 

[Slowpoke]

The DMV drops vehicles from the computer after something like 5-6 years of no registration. It was last registered in 2003.

 

[Brad Gyde]

Here in Michigan (for now) we can weigh a trailer at the scrap yards, elevators, etc.. But we have to have the slip and it has to say trailer weight (or in case of a farm plate for stake truck etc), truck weight, and vin/serial no. if it has one.. Or at least I have them scribble the vin/sn numbers on the slip just to save hassles later on.. proof I had that particular item weighed.

Last camper I picked up, it had a weight on the title.. but I bought it to strip down to make a small trailer to haul the lawnmower etc., so I'll have to have it reweighed anyhow.

Best I know, we can tow it there with no plate to get it weighed so that we can go plate it. if you're that concerned, could you get a 30 day temporary plate? (we can get them here from the dmv) Go and explain the situation and they should be able to assist.. (wether they will assist or not I can't say, but they should be able to)

Brad

 

[Slowpoke]

To be legal I would need a moving permit from DMV (used to be free, then $10, who knows how much now). I plan on making a utility trailer out of it, so I'd like to know the present weight to get an idea of the hauling capacity.

 

[Slowpoke]

To be legal I would need a moving permit from DMV (used to be free, then $10, who knows how much now). I plan on making a utility trailer out of it, so I'd like to know the present weight to get an idea of the hauling capacity. When, if ever, I get it finished I'll go to the DMV, say I bought an axle at the flea market, made a trailer and get it licensed. I've seen lots of utility trailers made from old travel trailers and pickup axles and beds.

 

[Leroy]

Actually if you are using for agriculture use you can pull it behind your truck with only a SMV emblem. I am in Ohio and go to Indiana that way. Other states too far to get to.

 

[Anonymous-0]

To have a trailer without a title, here in PA, is a real problem.

New laws about 5 yrs. ago.

Must apply for "special constructed trailer"
Must show sales tax paid on all receipts for frame metal, wheels, spring assemblies, etc. and for all parts.
Must get application from a "trailer inspection" guy.

Must have inspector check for weights, lights, hitch, tow chains, etc.

After inspection....Cost $125.00, all pictures of the trailer and paper work must be submitted to STATE. After approx 90-120 days, you get your title. Biggest hurdle....sales tax!

Just had a custom trailer made last year and had to go through the wringer to get plates.

The maker of my trailer didn't have any receipts for the parts showing sales taxes. So I had to claim that the trailer was purchased at HIS YARD SALE. He wrote me a receipt for $100.00 .

 

[Slowpoke]

In Ca I would go to DMV, fill out forms detailing the cost materials, & cost of construction labor so they can determine value for registration, fees and any sales tax. I don't know if DMV inspects it or Highway Patrol who might also assign a serial number or use the original one on the frame
Years ago the registration was due every year, probably $15-20, then it was changed to "permanent" plates good for 5 years for $20. Now it's 5 years for $10.
No wonder the states can't get enough money to operate.

 

[Leroy]

In Ohio a homemade trailer the only questions the DMV will ask on a trailer is either if factory make and model up to the large trailers or just state homemade and about what the year is and the color. No questions about cost or anything and no inspection. Plates are not cheap tho. Around $50+for a trailer of about 1 ton empty. Veries with weight.

 

[JML755]

Wow, government in action again. PA is starting to sound like CA when it comes to govt making our lives difficult with rules/regulations. As for the OP, sounds like you've already checked with your state (which you don't mention) and know the rules. Here in Michigan, I just went to a truck scale, got a weight slip and took it to the Secty of State office. No big deal. Had a bill of sale from the guy I bought it from, nothing else.

 

[Bret4207]

Okay, then take the VIN and make and model and do some research. (BTW-There IS a record in your DMV if it's ever been registered in your state, you just need to go up the ladder a little. It's just not on the main screen system they use and requires a bit of work) You need an empty weight for registration purposes, right? Somewhere on the web your information is waiting for you if you know the make, model and year. Google, google, google.

 

[Slowpoke]

OK. I'll try Google.

 

[Mattlt]

I ran across these instructions years ago. Not sure how it would work with a trailer; guess you"d need to get the tongue weight at the same time. Anyway, for what it"s worth.



Park the vehicle on a flat level hard surface.
Take two pieces of cardboard wider than tires.
Push one piece under the front of a tire as far as it will go.
Place the other piece against the other side of tire.
Measure the distance between them.
Multiply this by the width of the tire touching the ground.
This will give you the surface area of the tire touching the ground.
Measure the air pressure in the tire.
Multiply the air pressure by the surface area
and this will be the weight supported by that tire.
Do it to all the tires and add them all together.
This will give the total weight of the vehicle.
It"s accurate too as long as you measure accurately.

 

[Slowpoke]

Would one think that the area touching the ground would depend on the number of plies in the tire tread and sidewall, like 2 ply 4 ply, or more?

 

[MrFixit]

You can use a C.A.T scale? Certified Automated Truck scale at a truck stop if you have one near by. The cost is $9.00

 

[Slowpoke]

Here in Ca you get a ONE day permit to move a vehicle to a new place of storage, for repairs, weighing, etc.
I think the fee is $15.
Since the trailer isn't in my name I can't get a permit anyway.