78 | Section 2 Driving & Safety -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Monarch SE 2004
Scales:
Certified public scales are located in a variety of places such as moving and
storage lots, farm suppliers with grain elevators, gravel pits, recycling companies
and large commercial truck stops.
If you are not aware of a nearby public scale, check the local area telephone
book yellow pages under "scales-public" section or "weighers." A nominal fee will
be charged, but this is money wisely spent.
Weight scale types and weighing methods determine the procedure used to
calculate proper tire inflation pressure and axle loading. There are several types of
scales in use today. A platform scale will allow the entire motorhome to fit on the
scale, which will read the GVW with only one scale recording required. A
segmented platform scale is designed to weigh only one axle at a time, which may
require two or three scale readings to determine the GAW or GVW total. A single
axle scale enables one axle at a time. Some scales will read only one wheel
position at a time due their physical size. Several scale readings may be required
to determine the GAW or GVW total. Each wheel position will require weighing.
This is referred to as a four corner or four point weigh. This type of weighing
procedure will accurately determine what the correct tire inflation pressure should
be. Depending on the type of scale being used, several different scale readings
may be required.
NOTE: The most accurate method to determine proper tire pressure is
a four-corner or four point weigh. Each wheel position must be weighed
independently. Weighing the entire axle will not accurately determine
the total weight carried by that wheel position. When calculating the
drive axle dual tire pressure using a independent corner weigh method,
divide the total weight by two to determine the weight carried by each
tire. Each wheel position must be weighed and recorded.
During weighing, the scales as well as the motorhome must be as level as
possible to obtain an accurate scale reading. Even though an axle or side is not
physically on the scale, a definite lean in the motorhome will produce inaccurate
scale readings.
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