Posted by WaltD in Seattle on August 02, 04 at 13:31:56:
In Reply to: Called posted by Ben on August 02, 04 at 10:01:34:
I am a 1500 Owner(2K YXL SLT), and I can't agree more. I currently don't tow anything over about 3500 LBS, and I consider that the max for a 1/2 ton Suburban for long trips at Highway speed with good load of cargo/people in the truck. If you want to tow a 4500 boat across town once in a while to put in at the lake, less than 50 miles away and at speeds of 45MPH and under, I'll say OK.
Here is a little tip I picked up from my dad a number of years ago:
While on the highway loaded down with the family, pull into a "CLOSED" weigh station and weigh yourself. At most weigh stations they leave the scale turned on and you'll get your weight by looking at the readout display or by peeking through the window of the weigh shack. This doesn't work all the time, but you'll quickly figure out which ones work and which ones don't in your area.
I asked the State Patrol in my current state (WA) if doing so was OK, and they told me there was no law against it, and the trooper I talked to remarked that it was a great idea, and he wishes more people would do it.
There are other places that have drive on scales, such as lumber mills, paper/pulp mills, garbage dumps, transfer stations, recycling centers, etc. Most will allow you to take an "unofficial" or "non-certified" weight for free if you ask first and stop by when they aren't busy.
If you want to know hom much your trailer by itself weighs, weigh the combo, then unhich out of the way somewhere and re-weigh the truck by itself and subtract rig weight fromt he combo. I don't recommend weighing the trailer on the scale unhitched by itself unless you are quick at hitching and unhitching, since you will tie up the scale and you may have to stand on the scale to see the readout.
Hope this helps out.
Walt in Seattle