Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Homemade Tire Scale


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Open Roads Forum > Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)

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n0arp

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Posted: 07/22/21 12:58pm

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I'm not really sure what forum this best fits in, so posting it here.

I assembled a 20K tire scale for around $300, which I consider a great tool to have if trying to tune and balance your rig. I use it for my truck, Jeep, truck camper, and fifth wheel, but it could be used for just about anything. And loan it out to friends.

It's built using a "livestock scale kit" with 4x5000lb load cells. The kit vendor is shown on the photos, and cost (at my time of purchase) $229 with free shipping. I used a cheap 1/2-13 tap off Amazon and the included bolts to mount it to a piece of 14x16x3/4" 6061 aluminum plate I purchased from an online metal distributor for around $80.

I calibrated it with 100lbs of dumbells, and have confirmed it reports values in-line with CAT scales at over 6K per tire.

My original setup had the load cells flush with the plate (you can see the old mounting holes in the bottom photo) but I moved them further outboard so I could run the feet up for a lower overall height (around 4.5") and allow for the load cells to fully flex without hitting the plate (which wasn't an issue at the weights I've tested, but might be towards the upper limits - say a class A DP rear). To get the most accurate readings, I've been using Lynx leveling blocks under the other tires so they're all at the same height as the scale. I've also used pairs of those blocks to ease driving on and off of the scale, and yes, you can put duals on it though they'll hang off the side.

[image]

* This post was edited 07/22/21 02:38pm by n0arp *

coolmom42

Middle Tennessee

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Posted: 07/22/21 02:01pm

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Pretty slick!

Single empty-nester in Middle TN, sometimes with a friend or grandchild on board

BobsYourUncle

Calgary Alberta Canada

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Posted: 07/22/21 02:27pm

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Wow!!

That's nothing short of amazing! Very nice work, I'm impressed!

We need a thumbs up smiley for occasions like this.

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n0arp

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Posted: 07/22/21 02:36pm

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BobsYourUncle wrote:

Wow!!

That's nothing short of amazing! Very nice work, I'm impressed!

We need a thumbs up smiley for occasions like this.

Thanks! It's a really simple build, and I can't take credit for much of it. It's a relatively cheap way to get unlimited corner weighs though, and I thought it should be shared.

Lwiddis

Cambria, California area

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Posted: 07/22/21 02:43pm

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Interesting. Thank you for posting.

Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

BobsYourUncle

Calgary Alberta Canada

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Posted: 07/22/21 02:46pm

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Glad you shared it! I'll have to add this to my never ending project list...
This would be great to check the tongue weight on my TT.

RLS7201

Beautyful Downtown Gladstone, MO

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Posted: 07/22/21 03:09pm

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I wonder how much thisTongue weights?

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chindog

Florida

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Posted: 07/22/21 03:46pm

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I am intrigued by this. Does the 4 x 5000 kit only weigh up to 5,000# in total, or would it report weights up to 20,000#?

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n0arp

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Posted: 07/22/21 03:48pm

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chindog wrote:

I am intrigued by this. Does the 4 x 5000 kit only weigh up to 5,000# in total, or would it report weights up to 20,000#?

5K each, for up to 20K total.

[image]

I've tested it with over 6K.

* This post was last edited 07/22/21 05:13pm by n0arp * View edit history

bucky

Raleigh metro

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Posted: 07/23/21 03:56am

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This is awesome, the best post of the year. Thanks so much.
Our 5er has got to be way heavy on the road side as everything is on that side. I'd like to know just how heavy. This will do it and at a great price.

2005 Cummins 3500 2WD LB quad cab dually pulling a 2014 Blue Ridge 3025RL

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Open Roads Forum > Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)

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