Inexpensive tongue weight scale

[hugh]

I was looking for a tongue weight scale, and the Sherline was obviously an option. But it was relatively expensive ($130), given it wouldn't have been useful for anything else but tongue weight.



So, looking for other options, I came across a newly released "Amazon Basics" platform scale with a 660lb capacity. It's fairly inexpensive at around $38.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08521653Q


I went ahead and bought one. I've used it a few times, and seems to be sturdy enough for the job. It has a sturdy metal top plate, and I've been putting a piece of 3/4 plywood on the top before using it with the trailer. So far I haven't broken it!


Anyway, just putting this out there in case anyone else might be interested.

[alanmalk]

Thanks! I've put one in my shopping cart.

[johnnyv]

Looks promising. Thx for tip !

[johnnyv]

Weigh that trout Alan. Probably have.

[RBRV]

What point are you weighing? At the jack stand?

[hugh]

Originally Posted by RBRV

What point are you weighing? At the jack stand?

I've initially weighed both to come up with a conversion ratio between the two weights. Now I just weigh at the jack stand.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by hugh

But it was relatively expensive ($130), given it wouldn't have been useful for anything else but tongue weight.

Yes, $130 is too much for a one-function scale. Many thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by alanmalk

Thanks! I've put one in my shopping cart.

Me, too.

[cpaharley2008]

I have had a Sherline scale for awhile, loaned it out to other owners who asked. I carry it with me on rally trips if I remember to pack it.....

[George and Linda]

Jim, which model do you use?

[BobG]

Hugh, Thanks for the tip on converting jack weight to tongue weight. I am going to try that with the Sherline.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by George and Linda

Jim, which model do you use?

I got the 1,000 lb model as the numbers are easier to read and I knew I would never get that high tongue weight, ever.

[MarkinVan]

This one works pretty good and is cost effective.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/trai...t/PA0008916801

[Ron in BC]

I looked at that one and wasn't convinced that the +/- accuracy was all that good.

The digital Amazon one looks like a better deal.

Must get around to weighting the tongue weight sometime.

Ron

[MarkinVan]

I picked one up before our first time out with the trailer and it gave me a pretty good idea of where we were at with our setup in regard to tongue weight.

Probably won't use again unless we make a significant change to our setup.

You are probably right in that Amazon one would have also more uses but I got the peace of mind I needed when new to the trailer.

[Steven M]

Please let us know how well it works.

[BobG]

I received the Amazon scale yesterday and decided to check it against the Sherline scale. I have had the Sherline scale for a year. My thought was that the Amazon scale would be easier to store but I don't think so now that I have it.

I zeroed out the Amazon scale to 0 tare after setting up the Sherline scale on top of it.

500 - 510 lbs for the Sherline
593.10 lbs for the Amazon scale

Interesting results? I haven't decided what to do now?

Bob

[edlynnrich]

Wow! That is a huge discrepancy.

[BobG]

I just weighed myself on the Amazon scale and it says 2 lbs lighter than my bathroom scale so at 200 lbs it is pretty accurate.

[BobG]

I just reweighed the trailer tongue with both scales simultaneously and they came out about the same. This time I didn't set the Amazon tare to 0 with the Sherline in place. The Sherline and blocking weights about 9 lbs. This time the Sherline reads 590 witch is close to the Amazon 606 lbs minus 9 lbs tare.

I have no idea why the Sherline was coming up with 500 lbs the previous time. I weighed several times and they all came out the same.

[hugh]

Bob,


Good to know it came out close the second time. I'm only able to cross check the weight up to 250lbs or so using my bathroom scale. It seem fairly accurate in that weight range but you never know how well that will translate to the upper end of the scale.


At the moment, I feel like I'm getting my money's worth out of it. It's allowed me to get a sense of how loading items and filling the water tanks changes the weight distribution. I've also used it to sanity check the weights on any new items I'm installing like my lithium batteries. And, it worked pretty well yesterday to figure out the propane consumption rate for my new generator!