Buying a Sherline scale

[Chapitre]

I know some out there have bought one of these scales, can you advise as to what model and it appears a certain gauge would work for most of our trailers, ours is a 17B?

Don't want to buy the wrong one.
Thanks
Chapi

[gbaglo]

I got mine from eTrailer and unfortunately it came with a 2,000 lb. gauge. It was hard to read and is less accurate at either end of the dial. So, I ended up ordering the 1,000 lb. gauge. I installed it myself, and being inept, blew oil all over the kitchen and I can't seem to get the gauge to face up when it's screwed in all the way.
So, my advice is buy direct from Sherline and tell them you want the 1,000 lb. gauge. Even better would be a 750 lb. gauge ( if there was one ) so that your target weight is close to the middle ( 320 lbs for 17B ).

[Brian B-P]

The SHERLINE Trailer Tongue Weight Scale web page lists 1000 lb as the lowest range. I would have no problem operating the scale near the top of the range (as long as the gauge's upper limit is never exceeded), and the lower the range the easier it is to read accurately, so I would prefer even lower.. but would settle for the 1000 lb (model LM-1000).

There really is only one model of the Sherline scale - the only difference is the gauge.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

There really is only one model of the Sherline scale - the only difference is the gauge.

Yup, and the only gauge I could get from eTrailer was 2,000 lbs. Had to order 1,000 lb. gauge from Sherline, which is why I suggest buying direct.

[btroxell]

I just received my scale which I bought off eBay from "scaleautocart". He had the cheapest price for the 1000# model. Sherline does not make a scale with a gauge that reads lower than 1000# but the scale is just a hydralic piston which scales 1psi = 1lb, therefore, if you change the gauge, you can get a better reading for the range you desire as you did gbaglo.

Ben

[santacruzer]

I, too, bought the 2000# version from etrailer. If I had to do it over I'd get the 1000# model, but for now can work with what it is. Don't believe I'll muck around trying to change the gauge, though, will just buy correctly and sell this one.

[Brian B-P]

The Sherline scale is also available under the old "Loadmaster" name as part of the Cequent towing products line (with other stuff such as Draw-Tite hitches); however, I only see the 2000 lb version that way. Might be worth asking if the 1000 is also available from them, but it's probably overpriced by the time it makes it through the extra middlemen anyway.

[Vermilye]

Well, I'm ready to be called the "Red Green" of upstate NY (the link is for those that have never seen the show), but I saved spending the $ for a Sherline scale. Total cost - $24.99 for the 0 - 450 lb scale at Walmart plus some scrap lumber. It does have the limit that is custon sized for the Escape 17 hitch height but it works!

[gbaglo]

Do you weigh it immediately after a shower?

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Well, I'm ready to be called the "Red Green" of upstate NY (the link is for those that have never seen the show), but I saved spending the $ for a Sherline scale. Total cost - $24.99 for the 0 - 450 lb scale at Walmart plus some scrap lumber. It does have the limit that is custon sized for the Escape 17 hitch height but it works!

Good job. However, a real Red Green would have used duct tape to fasten the wooden uprights to each other and to the scale.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Do you weigh it immediately after a shower?

No silly, in the morning after he drains the tanks.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Well, I'm ready to be called the "Red Green" of upstate NY (the link is for those that have never seen the show), but I saved spending the $ for a Sherline scale. Total cost - $24.99 for the 0 - 450 lb scale at Walmart plus some scrap lumber. It does have the limit that is custon sized for the Escape 17 hitch height but it works!

LOL I have to admit that that is the identical way I have done it.... and I love Red Green.

[Chapitre]

For you guys who have used the sherline scale, what steps do you go through to use it? I bought one and am about to try it out.
How do you get it up and off the trailer jack so that you can lower it on the scale pin?

[cpaharley2008]

You have to position it under your coupler (make sure your stabilizers are all retracted first) and place the scale on a strong flat support, like a cinder block or another item that all support the front of the trailer and the scale will sit flat on top of it. Ypu position the scale under the coupler and you then slowly lower the tongue jack and coupler over the scale until it starts to register and the front is totally supported by the tongue jack. raise and lower it several times to insure the same reading, and record the amount.

[Chapitre]

Hi Jim,
Not 100% clear...do you mean you jack the trailer up, put down the legs( the ones when you have it set up ( 4) - position the scale, then lower the jack and release the legs. The trailer is sitting on the front jack leg ( the jack that you lower and raise the trailer with) , so I think I need a way to hold the trailer so I can raise the front jack, and lower it back on the scale.?

[cpaharley2008]

No, you raise all 4 stabilizers to the "Travel" position and you raise the front of the trailer with the tongue jack high enough to slide your scale, supported by a cinder block set upright. You then slowly lower the tongue jack over the scale until the scale registers the weight and the tongue jack is no longer touching the ground, thus the entire weight is now on the scale.

[gbaglo]

And you use chocks at the wheels ( both sides ) to keep the trailer from shifting at all.
As you an see from the pic, I used a bottle jack to lift the scale. It's better to raise the tongue of the trailer to get the scale under and then lower the tongue on to the scale. My set up above is less stable.

[Chapitre]

Thanks for the time and effort, appreciate it. It's clearer now.
Chapi

[padlin]

There's this take off on Jon's bathroom scale method.

Might have to get creative for 5th wheels.

[gocamp]

LOL ice breaker