How many have actually gone to a scale, and weighed
their trailer? How many just guess at what the weight of their trailer is with a
couple horses, hay, tack, water, and all the other stuff we take to rides. Now,
how many have weighed their whole rig, loaded, full of fuel, heading to a ride?
THAT is a very important weight to know, when considering if you are over
loading your truck. But most just go joyfully down the road, thinking that
they are well under what their truck is rated to tow (and STOP). I have heard of
insurance companies refusing to pay on claims when a truck/trailer were in an
accident, and then found to be over loaded. Not sure if this is one of those
urban, er, well, "horsey" legends that goes around, or if it is true. But I'd
hate to be denied a claim because I was stupid enough to over load my truck, and
get in an accident because of that fact. Of course the money is the least of my
concerns if my horse, other people, or myself were to be hurt...or
worse.
Many truck stop gas stations have scales out back.
I think it was $5 to weigh my rig, and I was allowed three weights. I went with
the truck and trailer loaded, and weighed the whole rig, then just the trailer
loaded on the scale, and then, since I wanted to know my tongue weight on my
bumperpull, I unhitched it with the jack only on a scale, and got a fairly
accurate tongue weight.
