Hitch scale at princess auto

[gocamp]

Princess auto has this hitch scale on sale for January for 22.99 item 8686024
Amazon example is here
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077FHP1W7...iglink20295-20

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by gocamp

Princess auto has this hitch scale on sale for January for 22.99 item 8686024
Amazon example is here
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077FHP1W7...iglink20295-20

It would be interesting to verify this scale against a Sherline or two. If it’s any where near accurate ( which it probably is) a few reference marks on the tube which agreed with the Sherline readings would make it a very economical solution for those who test their tongue weights regularly. As we previously discussed, the $20 Harbor Freight Torque wrenches do an acceptable job without breaking the bank. A person would have to devise a safe support setup to use the scale (which is true with any scale). Worth a try I guess.
I don’t have a Yeti cooler but have retrieved some cold beer out of a recycled Omaha Steaks Container (styrofoam). The ice will last longer than the beer or the buzz.
Iowa Dave

[fudge_brownie]

This is an Australian product, note the use of the word caravan in the description. It looks interesting, one question is, what weight measurement is being used? Pounds or grams? Their Australian site says kilograms, the Amazon photo looks like it may have two scales on the device, but it is too grainy to determine what they are.

Nice price, even with shipping. However, shipping takes 3-5 weeks.

[Eggscape]

I will buy one and bring it to the May Rally if others want to check their weight. Just bring your own blocks so the trailer does not roll.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

I will buy one and bring it to the May Rally if others want to check their weight. Just bring your own blocks so the trailer does not roll.

For those of us in the the States the price and shipping are in Canadian dollars. I ordered one. If it gets here before the Highlands Hammock meet I'll bring it with my Sherline. This won't be damaged if it tips over so I'll keep it with the trailer.

[fudge_brownie]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

Nice price, even with shipping. However, shipping takes 3-5 weeks.

I did not look at the price at Princess Auto, that is quite the deal. I was seeing it on Amazon where it was more than twice the price. The Amazon shipping was apparently from Australia, not sure about Princess.

[Donna D.]

I had the privilege of watching Frederick Simson weigh many trailers at the Oregon Gathering. He's a professional at his job. What you'll find is very important, is to weigh the tongue at hitch height. For some that's not level! First Frederick would measure the tongue while hitched, chock then unhitch the trailer. Then using the tongue jack, raise or lower the trailer to within about 1/8 inch of measured height. He'd use the Sherline where the tongue jack barely skimmed the surface of the road. He said that was in case something went south and the trailer fell it wouldn't hurt anything.

[Bobbito]

The Princess Auto scale is their Power Fist brand, not from Australia. I have several of their tools and they may not be top end but seem to do the job. I would expect this scale to be within their stated 10% accuracy. Its regular price is $35 Canadian.

Bob K

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

I did not look at the price at Princess Auto, that is quite the deal. I was seeing it on Amazon where it was more than twice the price. The Amazon shipping was apparently from Australia, not sure about Princess.

Princess Auto ships from Canada. Shipping looks high until you figure both the item and shipping are in Canadian dollars. For around $34 U.S. + bank fee I decided it was a good deal.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

It looks interesting, one question is, what weight measurement is being used? Pounds or grams? Their Australian site says kilograms, the Amazon photo looks like it may have two scales on the device, but it is too grainy to determine what they are.

The scale is labeled in pounds on the left side and kilograms on the right - markings are at 10 kg increments while numbers are at multiples of 50 kg and the pound equivalents. That's visible but fuzzy in the Amazon listing but clearer in the Princess Auto listing.

I had a look at this scale during a previous sale. It is 51 cm or 20 inches long with no load on it. The 250 kg range of the marked scale is 65 mm long (I took a photo of the scale with tape measure beside it), so the device will compress by 26 mm / 100 kg, or 0.46"/ 100 lb (or 3.85 kg/mm, 215 lb/in).

That means that if your tongue weight is 500 pounds (227 kg), it will compress to 17.7" or 55 cm. You can just read the tape measure in the photo for any weight, and subtract that from the unloaded length. If that's not the normal (towing) height for your tongue, the reading will be wrong... so I suggest that if this device would be too short at your tongue weight, it would be best to use it with a spacer (block of wood, plastic blocks used under jacks, whatever) so that at the target tongue weight the trailer sits at the right level. If the device is too long, it just won't produce the right reading, because tongue weight depends on height, especially with unequalized tandem axles.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by Bobbito

The Princess Auto scale is their Power Fist brand, not from Australia. I have several of their tools and they may not be top end but seem to do the job. I would expect this scale to be within their stated 10% accuracy. Its regular price is $35 Canadian.

Bob K

I bet since they look identical they both were made in the same place in some Asian country. If you ever look at stuff on Ebay notice page after page of the exact same item with different names?
Probably shortly after I receive this Harbor Freight will announce it as a new item.

[SouthernCamper]

https://www.etrailer.com/p-FA94-00-0...hhmodel=Tundra

is this the WDH with sway control that ETI sells? is this also an equalizer hitch, or is that something you need in addition to this/don't need if you get this?

[sclifrickson]

That is almost the same, but our 19 came with square trunnions bars. I think they use a lighter rated spring bar also.

You’d also have to add your own hitch ball. If you buy from ETI everything is included, including labor for installation and setup, one and done.

[pstyer]

We were looking for a reason for a weekend get-away! The forecast called for sunny skies and temperatures above freezing.
St. Cathrines has a Princess Auto and it's just a couple miles from the border. I was impressed with the selection of tools and trailer/automotive parts.
Thanks for the heads up on the hitch scale!

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

The scale is labeled in pounds on the left side and kilograms on the right - markings are at 10 kg increments while numbers are at multiples of 50 kg and the pound equivalents. That's visible but fuzzy in the Amazon listing but clearer in the Princess Auto listing.

I had a look at this scale during a previous sale. It is 51 cm or 20 inches long with no load on it. The 250 kg range of the marked scale is 65 mm long (I took a photo of the scale with tape measure beside it), so the device will compress by 26 mm / 100 kg, or 0.46"/ 100 lb (or 3.85 kg/mm, 215 lb/in).

That means that if your tongue weight is 500 pounds (227 kg), it will compress to 17.7" or 55 cm. You can just read the tape measure in the photo for any weight, and subtract that from the unloaded length. If that's not the normal (towing) height for your tongue, the reading will be wrong... so I suggest that if this device would be too short at your tongue weight, it would be best to use it with a spacer (block of wood, plastic blocks used under jacks, whatever) so that at the target tongue weight the trailer sits at the right level. If the device is too long, it just won't produce the right reading, because tongue weight depends on height, especially with unequalized tandem axles.

Very comprehensive explanation, Brian......thanks!

The scale’s specs state that its accuracy range is plus or minus 10%, which I would think is significant. In your opinion, would you think that the scale is more likely to be most accurate in the middle of its range and less accurate at the low and high ends?

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

Very comprehensive explanation, Brian......thanks!

The scale’s specs state that its accuracy range is plus or minus 10%, which I would think is significant. In your opinion, would you think that the scale is more likely to be most accurate in the middle of its range and less accurate at the low and high ends?

I imagine like the Sherline it is more accurate towards the middle.
We own a Sherline and will take the spring scale with us as it looks like it will be more rugged and if tipped over will not be damaged.. I had my Sherline checked for calibration and it is not the 3% towards the upper and lower weights and 2% in the middle that they advertise. It is closer to 10% at 100 Lbs and as it crosses 300 Lbs gets more accurate and is within the 2% at about 600 Lbs and then starts climbing and is around 5% at 1000 Lbs. Which would be expected for a scale of it's construction and price. Want accuracy across the range, it's gonna cost a lot more than the suggested retail price of $142 for the Sherline. If I get the Princess Auto scale before the rally I'll bring it with me. I'll bring the Sherline too so we can compare them
One thing that the spring scale design might be better at is side load. The Sherline is very sensitive to slight side loading. I suspect a lot of the reviews I've seen complaining about it being way off are due to that.

[Eggscape]

I picked up mine yesterday. Looks good and as you said it should read at the trailer ride height which is 19 inches for the 19...so I was told by ETI. I will have it at the Rally.
Also it will be interesting to see how the weight changes between full tanks and empty tanks on the 19. Showing up to a dump station with an empty fresh water tank behind the axles and full gray and waste in front of the axles...then a dump up front and a fill behind should make for some shift in weight. Due to this constant variable swing in load I am not to worried that the scale may be out a bit.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by sclifrickson

That is almost the same, but our 19 came with square trunnions bars. I think they use a lighter rated spring bar also.

I was wondering about that also, the 800/8,000 lb. rating. I think that the one that I got from ETI was more like 500 or 600 lb. I'm not sure what effect using a higher rated one would have.

Ron

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

The scale’s specs state that its accuracy range is plus or minus 10%, which I would think is significant. In your opinion, would you think that the scale is more likely to be most accurate in the middle of its range and less accurate at the low and high ends?

While most forms of instrumentation (such as dial pressure gauges) ars more accurate at mid-scale, this is a simple coil spring so I doubt that the accuracy changes much across its useful range.

I would probably roughly calibrate the scale by comparison with something more accurate (I have a 200 kg / 440 lb capacity electronic platform scale, for instance), and note any offset that it shows (for instance, if it reads 10 kg high, assume it's always about 10 kg high).

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I was wondering about that also, the 800/8,000 lb. rating. I think that the one that I got from ETI was more like 500 or 600 lb. I'm not sure what effect using a higher rated one would have.

A higher-rated WD system will have stiffer spring bars, so the torque on the hitch (which is what causes the load re-distribution) will change more with angle. That makes the WD system more sensitive to adjustment, and means more variation in axle loads as the tug and trailer combination pitches over bumps or through dips. It will also increase the natural frequency of pitch oscillations, if you're into that level of system tuning...