How much fuel to put on?

Do you have an apu and where are you? Most states will allow 400 lbs for an apu.
http://www.ooida.com/Education&BusinessTools/Trucking_Info/Vehicle_weight_exemptions_for_APUs.shtml

 

I heard on the Truckin Bozo show the other day...actually there are only a few that are allowing the 400. The fight is still on...

 

Otherhalfw gave you the first best answer! And I can't believe that correct replies about the weight of diesel fuel! There used to be fights about fuel weighing 8 pounds over 7.3 a gallon!

The first thing I do when I get a new truck is hope that it has very empty tanks or close to it. I head to the truck stop, scale and I'll put in 100+ gallons of fuel and scale again as Otherhalfw said and now I know how much weight goes where! THEN I add fuel to the reefer and scale again. Very little of the weigh goes to the tandems as they are pretty far back from the tank! But it doesn't hurt to know where that weight goes. It's all part of getting the job done the best way you can.

Now as for figuring out how much fuel to put on before you hit the state scales just figure out how far they are and do the gallons per mile math and add that as extra weight. It'll burn off before you get there and especially if you are low on fuel before you loaded and can't put that much on or you are in that high dollar fuel state!

 

Never, ever come here and ask a simple question !!

 

The OP is probably more confused now then when this thread started

 

Took a load to Colo. a few weeks ago, Didn't check weight because the place I loaded said that my load was 41000 and I assumed they were right....(Dumb)After getting a full tank of fuel, I decided to get a scale ticket for the fun of it, and i was 80140. So I adjusted my Tandems and 5th wheel to balance it out as best I could and knew that I had 300 miles to the first scale so I should be fine. the scale called me in to check my paper work, and the first thing out of the DOTs mouth was. "You know that you are at (legal Max) , Right? Driver!"
I asked him. "am I over" He said.... "Don't add any more fuel." So yes, they do pay attention.

 

I had always thought tank position was important regarding steer-drive weight distribution. When I was speccing trucks I called Western Star (back in the good old days when it was owned by Terry Peabody and you could talk to a plant engineer) and they said with the tanks under the sleeper it would be a 48%-52% split and with them under the cab a 52%-48% split. I ended up ordering some trucks with the tanks in both positions and much to my surprise they were right.

I'm sorry it is foggy out and I guess it has seeped into my head but how does 5th wheel position affect fuel distribution?

 

12,120 on the steers would be fine in some states, overwieght in others. The OP said to assume he was not going to burn any fuel before crossing scales. The axle weights are the determining factor, not the gross.

 

My comment on the 5th wheel position wasn't refering (another pun...oh I am good) to the fuel weight disposition...it was what he showed on the original scale weights...steers at 11,3--, AND BASICALLY MAXED ON THE DRIVES..so by moving the 5th wheel forward 2 holes would allow better steering traction instead of the higher potential of hydroplaning being light on the steers.

Western Stars were set up to near 50/50...back in the "good ole days". but today's fleets with Freightshakers holding the most common ground, the splits can be close to 60/40...so there is room to know where your weight is going.