Don't set your brakes!!!

Why would you ever set your brakes on one to begin with? Other than on the truck mind you,

 

Some understand this and you did a great job explaining the issue, but there will always be a lot who just can't be convinced or can't comprehend the dynamics.

I feel it's okay to set tractor brakes ONLY, if you feel the need to, but only AFTER you come to a stop, get off the brake and let it come to a natural rest.

Having a 35+ MPH wind at your trailer doors is a good example of when it may be a good idea to set a few brakes while processing your weight.

 

I just leave it in gear and shut it off

 

[QUOTE="Catman131, post: 5750597 When you set your brakes it dumps the air bags, ??[/QUOTE]

On some trailers maybe, if you pop the emergency valve.
I haven't seen a tractor yet that dumps the air bags when the brakes are set.

 

Makes sense to me. Causing a bind between the platforms, yes?

 

What if you set only the trailer breaks? Would that hold the truck yet still let the scale move enough under the tires and settle?

I've been on scales that are not perfectly level and I'll roll without breaks. I drive an auto shift so I'm not sure if I should turn my truck off in gear.

 

I'm with Lyle. Set the tractor brakes if you need to and don't touch the trailer brakes. And you're good to go.

 

I never set my brakes on a scale, regardless of suspension type. Few years back, picking up a grain load, scaling out loaded, I was on the scale, the girl weighed me and was doing my paperwork. Coworker standing beside me, I asked him to go pull my truck off and pull his empty on. He came back in 5 minutes later, couldn't figure out how to release my brakes (I have the custom woodgrain brake releases, he had the regular red/yellow buttons). I told him my brakes weren't set to begin with and since we drive matching trucks automatic trucks ( except I have a sleeper and he doesn't), he should have seen that the bright red P on the dash wasn't lit up and just put it in gear. He asked why I didn't set my brakes, told him I never set my brakes on the scale, it can throw off the actual weight, it allows the scale to settle out naturally. He didn't understand. He pulled his empty on, set the brakes and came inside. The scale showed one weight. Told him to go release his brakes and come back in, when he did, she showed him there was a difference of 600 lbs.

He still didn't fully grasp it, then I explained when you roll across the scale at the POE, do you set your brakes? He said no, he rolled on slowly, tapped the brakes and waited till they changed the light. Exactly the point, you have a more natural weight.