Reich wheel weighing scales
Hi, has anyone used a Reich weighing scale to check the weight of their motorhome? From what I've read so far it seems you lay it on a flat surface and drive over it one wheel at a time in a specific order, it then calculates the total but displays the weights
for each wheel, each axle and the total. Question; does it work, is it easy to use and do you believe the readout?
Comments
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Wow Huskydog, I'd never have thought of that! Seriously though, the nearest weighbridge to me is a 30 mile round trip and the charge is £25.00 for the first reading plus £10.00 per additional reading so very expensive to get 4 seperate wheels weighed which
is what I need for tyre load calculations. Also, believe it or not I have some friends with motorhomes and we share some equipment between us so cost isn't really relevent, the question remains, is it any good?0 -
Hi Sp i use the lower weight 1000kg model for my caravan, and being a belt and braces person before i used it i took the van to my local weigh bridge and then weighed it at home with the reich, It was spot on, the only down side is it a two person job as
it is difficult to see when the wheels are central on the scales. Hope that helps
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Thanks Jeff and JVB66, nothing negative reported so that confirms the article in the magazine I read. I'll see if I can get one at the NEC show later this month.
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I take mine to the local weighbridge and have the front and rear axle loads measured and also the gross load. It is very important to have axle readings because it is possible to overload one axle yet still be within the plated gross weight.
If you divide the axle weight by two, that is a good indication of the load on each axle wheel/tyre.
peedee
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I had a Reich Weight Control when I caravanned. It was useful to establish the side to side weight of the caravan. It wasn't as straightforward to use as you had the have a level firm surface in order to get an accurate reading. It was clever in that it
calculated the total weight of the van by taking measurements of both wheels and the jockey wheel. If it was just a case of establishing the noseweight I think I would be inclined to go for the Milenco noseweight gauge.David
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They are like bathroom scales but for heavier loads. I used one a long time ago to check the weight distribution across a caravan axle. I don’t know how accurate they are but it was OK for comparative tests and easy to use. I’d check that the scale goes
high enough for your motorhome, as the one I had was limited to about a tonne, and I don’t think a double rear axle would work with one.0 -
Thanks again Guys but I have to disagree with peedee. My van sagged on the rear offisde, a suspension check revealed no faults so I had air suspension added and by running suspension pressures differently I can level the van. So far so good. I next fitted a Tyrepal system, All 4 tyres (which are new) start a journey at correct pressure and 3 rise by about 5-6psi after about 10 miles then remain constant, the rear offisde rises by 10 -15psi which trips the Tyrepal alarm, a worrying situation. The temperature of this tyre also rises by several degrees more than the other 3 so I suspect that the weight carried by this wheel is disproportionate. The layout of the van somewhat lends itself to this theory as well but I want to know how much inbalance there is so weighing each wheel is the only way forward. If anyone has any thoughts about tyre pressures/temperatures that might also be of interest. I was very surprised how hot tyres become on a summers day on a motorway at 65mph, a Tyrpal system is an eye-opener! Cheers.
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Are you sure it is nothing to do with the exhaust system directing gases onto the offside rear wheel? I noticed the otherday, driving along in the rain my nearside tyre pressures did not rise so much as the offside, normally they are about even. I put it down to the nearside wheels passing through roadside puddles cooling them more than the offside.
peedee
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Hi Peedee, thanks for the suggestion. Certainly the exhaust is an interesting thought as it is positioned about 1m in front of the offending tyre but I have had this problem for over 2000 miles throughout Europe so can discount puddles on the nearside. The 3 other tyres all remain more or less constant once they've reached operating temperature/pressure whereas the rear offside is always about 8psi/10C higher which is a worry. Before I fitted the Tyrepal I was happy and oblivious of this problem and can only presume it has always operated in this manner and that I have no need to worry.....time will tell. (but I may check out the exhaust)
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Hi Peedee, thanks for the suggestion. Certainly the exhaust is an interesting thought as it is positioned about 1m in front of the offending tyre but I have had this problem for over 2000 miles throughout Europe so can discount puddles on the nearside. The
3 other tyres all remain more or less constant once they've reached operating temperature/pressure whereas the rear offside is always about 8psi/10C higher which is a worry. Before I fitted the Tyrepal I was happy and oblivious of this problem and can only
presume it has always operated in this manner and that I have no need to worry.....time will tell. (but I may check out the exhaust)...Have you checked that you do not have a brake that is binding
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Thanks JVB, no I haven't but that is another good thought and not one that occurred to me. The sag in the suspension always lead me down the path of uneven weight distribution and 2000 miles of Tyrepal warnings may just indicate a problem not related to
weight distribution after all. It's definitely another idea worth checking out. Thank you.0 -
Try loading the van to offset the suspected weight distribution and see if it makes a difference.
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You may find a public weighbridge that will allow you to weigh one wheel at a time without charge. Some will only charge if you require a ticket to be produced. Do let us know if you determine the cause of the overheating, it’s all very interesting.
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Hi Guys, thanks again for comments. It would be difficult to re-load the van differently as it is the big battery, twin gas cylinders heater and kitchen which are all on the offside, I could fill the nearside locker with lead to balance it up but it wouldn't
do my fuel consumption much good!The temperature increases as the pressure increases but which comes first? I'll buy the scales and let you know what I find....
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Hello Snapperpete
How did you get on with the scales?
Thanks
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I bought one of those and had a sleepless night after I weighed my van because it was way heavier than I expected so I took my van to a registerd weigh bridge and found the scales to be weighing 28% heavier than the weigh bridge, I sent them back.
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in our c/van, it gives seperate weights of each wheel and jockey
