On-Board Scales?

I just use air pressure gauges...pretty easy to install.

My truck already had a tractor air suspension gauge, but if it didn't it is no more difficult than cutting an air line going to one of the air bags and splicing in a T...then running a line from there up to a dash gauge.

I replaced the stock gauge with a dual needle gauge the same size...and ran the second air line out to run to the trailer along with the other air & electric lines. It has a male 1/4" quick-connect to plug in.

On the trailer, a T is spliced into the airline to one of the air bags and a line run to the nose of the trailer where the female 1/4" quick-connect is mounted right along side the other air & electrical hook-ups.

Once you know what the air pressure in the bags should be when you are fully loaded, you can get it pretty darned close just off the air gauges.

Best part is, you can take a truck & trailer with air ride, but without any gauges at all, and set it up like this in less than an hour with around $30-40 worth of parts & supplies.

I've seen electronic gauges that "convert" air pressure to a digital weight reading....and even some gauges where the needle points to weight rather than psi...but once you know what psi gives you a legal load, there really isn't any need to spend more money on the fancy gauges.

 

I have been using Air-Weigh scales for years. When my last tractor was built; I had the scales put on at the factory; and I have added them to both my trailers. I never talked to a Air-Weigh salesman per se; I did some research, talked to a few others that use them, and then bought them. I too am a little mystified why more owner/ops don't spec them; and I am even more amazed by the ones that DO have them try to use them improperly (brakes on, on a sideslope, etc etc)

If I were you I would concentrate on the small fleet and owner op market. The big fleets are never going to spend the coin for a tool their drivers will never get mastery of.

 

That's it in a nutshell.

 

Saw a display down at MATS last year of a wireless air gauge. You hooked the sending unit up just like the T fitting but that was it. No lines to run and it had a digital gauge you mounted in the dash hole. Was like $200 I think. I'm going to buy one this year of they are back down there. I can't remember the name of the company.

 

Truckweight has a wireless system....

 

What sort of power source is used? Does it tie into the truck's electrical wiring? Or does it have a battery which needs to be checked/replaced? What's the range on the transmitter? Will the back of the sleeper/headache rack/etc. potentially block/interfere the signal? What if another truck with a similar set-up pulls in next to you, will they interfere with one another? Perhaps I'm over thinking things, but it just seems like there's an awful lot that can go wrong.

I live by the K.I.S.S. rule....no point in spending a ton of extra money making things more complicated than they have to be when you can make it work reliably for a fraction of the cost....but to each their own.:smt023

 

It looked to run off the same type of system that they use in all new cars for tire pressure. It has a lithium ion battery that has a 20yr life span and it runs off a similar code frequency just like a Bluetooth headset.

As for the headache rack ect ect, I have no idea.

With the wireless system you would not need to run any air lines at all. Plus it would make putting one on the trailer much easier. I just liked the "plug it in and go" idea instead of spending a couple hours running lines and drilling holes. But I'm lazy I guess LOL

 

lol....I don't even use a bluetooth headset....opted for the Cobra 29BT because it's hard-wired to the truck so I don't have to worry about a stupid battery. Me & batteries don't get along too well...