Weighing a tag axle for motorcycle carrier.

[Badknee]

We have the rack but before we buy a scoot I need to know what capacity I have left on the rear axle.

I have uprated to front axle 1850kg, 2nd axle 1750kg, 3rd axle 1750kg. Remembering we are full timers were probably carrying more than most but may be able to move stuff around to get within limits.

The big question is how do I know what axle two is carrying? I can put the fronts on and weigh, but when I weigh axle two the front will be on, if I turn it the other way axle three will be on.

If I weigh two and three then half it will it be anywhere close?

And before you ask, yes I will be getting out so that the front axle won't be overloaded.

 

[vwalan]

what about fitting the rack perhaps tying some heavy bags on of a known weight or something and getting it weighed . or take the bags in the car then put them on the rack.

 

[Badknee]

what about fitting the rack perhaps tying some heavy bags on of a known weight or something and getting it weighed . or take the bags in the car then put them on the rack.

Yes I can do that Alan but I want to know what I weigh now and how to check. We're staying on a farm and there's sacs of animal food I can use but need a starting point on axle 3.

 

[RogerThat]

If I weigh two and three then half it will it be anywhere close?

Unless axles two and three are several feet apart from each other, I'd say that you'll be pretty much spot on. Or at least so close that the difference is negligible

 

[vwalan]

must be a local weigh bridge somewhere ,scrap yard or animal feed store usually have them.
weigh the axles seperately .i,m sure you know how really.
bet you already know where all the weigh bridges are around you.

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[Cavs]

I've weighed our tag on one of those strips you drive over (can't remember what it's called) several times. Each rear axle is rated for 1,800 kg and the most difference I've ever seen between them is 130 kg or so, which is neither here nor there. Given the inherent inaccuracy of the weighing bar, I'd be surprised if the difference was as big as that. It was MOT'd last week and the weights shown on the brake tester were consistent. I'd say you'd be fine with your approach - weigh the rears together and treat them as one axle.

Edit: on reflection, I'm pretty sure that's how any weigh bridge check by the authorities would be done in the absence of very specialist one wheel at a time kit.

 

[Badknee]

Unless axles two and three are several feet apart from each other, I'd say that you'll be pretty much spot on. Or at least so close that the difference is negligible

No, their close coupled.

 

[Badknee]

must be a local weigh bridge somewhere ,scrap yard or animal feed store usually have them.
weigh the axles seperately .i,m sure you know how really.
bet you already know where all the weigh bridges are around you.

Yes Alan, I've got one in mind.

 

[gus-lopez]

Here I would put front axle on first . then reverse so that axle three is just on then go width ways so axle 1 & 3 are both off & 2 is the only one on. & yes there is enough level flat room to do it. Assuming it isn't possible on any weigh bridge over there then I would do front axle & axle 3 the same then weigh total & deduct 1+3 from it to leave weight that 2 is carrying.

 

[Badknee]

I've weighed our tag on one of those strips you drive over (can't remember what it's called) several times. Each rear axle is rated for 1,800 kg and the most difference I've ever seen between them is 130 kg or so, which is neither here nor there. Given the inherent inaccuracy of the weighing bar, I'd be surprised if the difference was as big as that. It was MOT'd last week and the weights shown on the brake tester were consistent. I'd say you'd be fine with your approach - weigh the rears together and treat them as one axle.

Edit: on reflection, I'm pretty sure that's how any weigh bridge check by the authorities would be done in the absence of very specialist one wheel at a time kit.

VOSA or whatever their called this week use w weighbridge but also have access to a single axle weigh, they have too with tri axle units and trailers these days. I'm going to weigh Axle 1 then the whole van, then axle 3. That will do to tell me what weight of scoot I can carry.

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[Just smiffy]

You put your first axle in, you put your second axle out, you put your third axle in and shake it all about.....

Simples...

 

[Speve]

You need one of these I have one at home you could use but am in Sweden for next three months.

 

[hilldweller]

My gut feeling if you are doing the calculations is to use a point mid way between the two rear axles and assume the load is equally shared, unless the are pushing the limit to the nearest kg.

 

[GAVLAD]

I took mine to my local council weighbridge which is at the entrance to the tip/recycling centre.
I weighed the motorhome with all wheels on the weigh bridge.
Then I drove off,turned around and drove back on from the opposite direction with firstly, just the front axle on.
Thumbs up from the miserable git in the office and I then drove forward so that the front axle was off but both rear axles were on bridge.
He gave me my weigh ticket which showed the weight of all axles/vehicle and then he wrote the weight on for the front and for the rears.
I then just split the rears weight between the two tag axles to establish each tag axle.
Council weighbridges don't have the facility to weigh the back two axles separately because you have to pull onto or off the weighbridge to a certain point.

I'd suggest doing the above based on your motorhome being empty (garage wise) and then knowing the weight of everything you put in it.
You can use the payload calculator on SVTech's website which now shows a tag axle motorhome as an option.
Based on knowing your weights and also your measurements between axles and overhang lengths, it should give you an idea of how your scooter will affect your payload and where and how you need to load your motorhome to accommodate.

 

[GAVLAD]

Have you thought of trading in for one of these?

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[Steve and Denise]

I looked in to this some time ago and in the case of a tag both rear are read as one.

 

[Badknee]

You put your first axle in, you put your second axle out, you put your third axle in and shake it all about.....

Simples...

I'll shake you up Smiffy....... by the neck.

 

[Badknee]

I took mine to my local council weighbridge which is at the entrance to the tip/recycling centre.
I weighed the motorhome with all wheels on the weigh bridge.
Then I drove off,turned around and drove back on from the opposite direction with firstly, just the front axle on.
Thumbs up from the miserable git in the office and I then drove forward so that the front axle was off but both rear axles were on bridge.
He gave me my weigh ticket which showed the weight of all axles/vehicle and then he wrote the weight on for the front and for the rears.
I then just split the rears weight between the two tag axles to establish each tag axle.
Council weighbridges don't have the facility to weigh the back two axles separately because you have to pull onto or off the weighbridge to a certain point.

I'd suggest doing the above based on your motorhome being empty (garage wise) and then knowing the weight of everything you put in it.
You can use the payload calculator on SVTech's website which now shows a tag axle motorhome as an option.
Based on knowing your weights and also your measurements between axles and overhang lengths, it should give you an idea of how your scooter will affect your payload and where and how you need to load your motorhome to accommodate.

We have been uprated from 4600kgs to 5250kgs and I think I will do as @SteveandDenise suggests.

 

[pappajohn]

Don't forget there's a further calculation regarding the fulcrum effect of the load.
The further behind the rearmost axle the greater the load on the axle for the same scooter weight.
Example....
Scoot weighs 150kg but 2 metres behind the axle it could be 200kg plus pushing down on the axle....and 50kg lighter on the front.

An easy way to describe it.....take a 2.5ltr tin of paint (scooter) and hold it in one hand below your shoulder (axle), now hold it out at arms length.
The strain on your shoulder has increased (axle loading) even though it's the same tin of paint.

 

[Badknee]

Yes @pappajohn, @Jim pointed me in the direction of the calculation in resources that I'm going to use

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[Badknee]

An update, weighed off last Thursday in full timer trim and all tanks full.
Rear axles were 660kgs under max and full weigh was 690kgs under.

 

[Just smiffy]

Yeh, but when you have a dump in the loo that'll put 200kgs back on......

 

[denisejoe]

Some police have the single plate for each pair of tyre you can buy them someone on here posted a while ago

Joe

 

[Badknee]

Yeh, but when you have a dump in the loo that'll put 200kgs back on......

SMIFFY! Good job your so far away matey.

 

[martin2603]

I weighed my tag axle MH with a PCX on the rack Front 1800kg (MAX 2100) Rear axles 2870kg Max 3000kg) , lockers full with air awning garden chairs , ramps ect etc etc, plus water and fuel, but no wife!

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[martin2603]

What allowance did you have for payload?