[Ken2002S]

Folks,

In northern Calif. when the CHP weight scales are closed and no one is around, the CHP leave the scales on and turn the readout screens around so they can be read through the window. Very kewl when you need to balance a trailer for towing, etc.

Went by one today and drove the 2002S on to the scales. This is stock "S" with 1/4 tank of gas, misc. crap in the boot, etc. I have installed a skid plate. Anyway.. a "real" car as driven around. Weights were:

total car: 2720 lbs
front wheels only: 1660 lbs
rear wheels only: 1060 lbs

Drive safe

[NEMINI]

What spec is your MINI tho? some feature such as sunroof make quite a weight difference.

[Ken2002S]

Sorry for the over sight

The car is a 2002S with sport suspension, thus 17" wheels, 6 speed, etc.

Not much else...
NO gps
NO cd in boot
NO sunroof
NO lux. package stuff
NO winter package stuff

[MINIALEX]

Whats that in Kg?

[chiph]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ken2002S

total car: 2720 lbs
front wheels only: 1660 lbs
rear wheels only: 1060 lbs

Pounds to kilograms: divide by 2.2

Total Car: 1236.36kg
Front: 754.54kg
Rear: 481.81kg

Or, in a more obscure unit of measure:
Total Car: 19 040 000gr (grains)
Front: 11 620 000gr
Rear: 7 420 000gr


Chip H.

[MINIALEX]

Thanks - very quick!!

[stryder]

If you have a portable CB and around $10 to waste, you can weigh your car at any truck stops, one of my friends who regularly tows will stop and weigh his dakota, and ends up with it weighing over 10,000lbs regularly.

In any event, you can stop at a truck stop and get the printout from their scales, they just may look at you funny, but no worse then a disel beetle filling up at the stop. Some of them might have someone manning the scales all the time, so you don't even need to use a CB.

[Pebbles]

Do you weigh the car while sitting in it?
How does it work?
If I'm in the car, well there's 140 lbs added real quick, add my boyfriend and there's another 180.

[EBMCS03]

HEY! Now i want to weigh my car at a truck stop... theres one right at the whatever check point in between Los Angeles and San Diego on the 5 freeway...

[NEMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pebbles

Do you weigh the car while sitting in it?
How does it work?
If I'm in the car, well there's 140 lbs added real quick, add my boyfriend and there's another 180.

Get a base weight with nothing in it, everything else can be added to it later.

[tip]

If you need a scale in your area here is the web site for cat scale. Use the web site to look up the closest scale: http://www.catscale.com/

Charles

[bigbaddaboom]

Is there anything like this in the UK? I've talked to some friends about scrap metal yards having something butI've never found out for sure. I also drive past a weigh station eveyday on my way to work, but I don't know whether they'd appreciate me sticking my car onto it...??

[goin440]

I parked my Cooper on Co-op scales near my town. Minimal options, full tank, skid plate, and aftermarket wheels: 2700 (including driver).

heavy

[TonyB]

Thanks Ken for sharing! So, do the CHP scales close at a prescribed time daily? I'd like to visit one in the next week or so, but it's about 45 minutes from my home and I'd rather not wait, if still open... Thanks again!

goin440, may i ask your weight? If you are female, I apologize, and don't bother. My parents brought me up right

Actually, I'm quite pleased to see that it weighs 2,700 lbs, full tank and driver. That seems to confirm that the MCS might weigh 2,513 lbs, as I read in a couple locations...

never mind... i just re-read your post, and you have an MC, not a heavier MCS. Ouch!

[Ken2002S]

The scales in far Northern California do not have 'posted hours.' I know of a couple that are opened once every couple of months and the rest of the time are simply unoccupied. As for more population dense areas, sorry I can't help. Anytime you drive by a CHP scale that is NOT open, I would duck in and see if the thing works... if it does, you are good to go! You are better off in simple, one truck at a time rural scale areas as opposed to I80 between Sacramento and SF which I think is open 24/7. I am fairly sure that the CHP sclaes that open and shut DO NOT have scheduled hours and use a random basis to try and catch truckers who are breaking the rules.

The weights I posted were with me OUT of the car... just the car. I got out, stood to the side on the sidewalk and read the scales... then moved the car and re-read the scales. BTW, my posted weight WAS for an S and was with ~1/4 tank of gas.

[stryder]

Some more info, though I've never looked closely at one in CA: The scales usually have several big platforms, since they're designed to measure the steer, drive and trailer axel weights of 18 wheelers, so you'd have to park right on the edge of two plates and read your axel weight, or park in the middle of one plate and read the total weight.

The scales are definetly on a random schedule if they're not open 24/7, but if you think when there are more trucks on the road that's when they're more likely to be open.

I do wonder what the CHP would do if you just drove up when they were open and asked to be weighed... they'd probably either find it quite funny and let you, or try and write you a ticket for something stupid.

[TonyB]

good info and thanks for the clarification! can't wait to give it a try...

[bigbaddaboom]

I found a scrap metal place in town that has a weigh station that goes upto 20 tons....maybe if I ask nicely.

[goin440]

TonyB,

I [male] weigh about 145. I hoped off the scale and it dropped appropriately, so I figure its pretty accurate. Come to think of it... I may have had a full tank of gas too. But stock, it should weigh around 2500-ish. So gaining 200lbs in fluids, mods, options, and self is probably pretty close. [my CD book holder weighs a good 10lbs minimum]

Normally the scales are used for big rigs and tractors/machinery. I assume the scale is accurate to 5-10lbs. Pretty good IMO.

[TonyB]

accurate enough for me! i will take mulitiple measurements, and try to find more than one location as well. thank you.