CAT Scale Weighing Walkthrough
A certified truck scale (CAT scales are at many truck stops) turns estimates into facts for a small fee per weigh, with cheaper reweighs.
Before you go
Load for a real trip: people, gear, full propane, the water you'll travel with, and a full tank of fuel.
The three-weigh method
- Weigh 1, whole rig, WD hitch engaged: park with steer axle on platform 1, drive axle on 2, trailer axles on 3.
- Weigh 2, WD bars released (travel trailers): shows how much the hitch shifts weight back to the front axle.
- Weigh 3, truck alone: unhook the trailer nearby and weigh the truck by itself.
What the numbers tell you
- Tongue weight ≈ (truck axles hooked up, bars off) − (truck alone)
- Steer and drive axle weights → compare to front/rear GAWR
- Truck total → compare to GVWR
- All three platforms → compare to GCWR
- Trailer axles + tongue weight → loaded trailer weight; compare to the trailer GVWR
Enter the results in the GVWR/GAWR check and GCWR calculator.
Safety note: These are planning estimates, not a guarantee your setup is safe or legal. Always verify with your truck's door-jamb sticker, the manufacturer's towing guide for your exact configuration, the trailer's VIN sticker, and a real weigh at a CAT scale. Never exceed any rating.
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Last reviewed October 2026 by Jim Frith.