Can you spot the mistake with this weigh ?
April 17, 2025
We’ve noticed a few concerning trends in the mobile weighing industry. Some may seem minor, but they can compromise the accuracy of a weigh-in and lead to incorrect results.
Below are some key things to watch out for when having your car and caravan weighed:
Below are some key things to watch out for when having your car and caravan weighed:
Jockey Wheel Still Touching the Ground or Not Accounted For
A common oversight is failing to fully lift or remove the jockey wheel during the weigh-in. If it’s still in contact with the ground — even slightly — it can offload weight from both the axles and the towball, leading to false readings.
Also, if you typically remove your jockey wheel for travel, it should be returned to its normal travel position before weighing. Not doing so will skew the results.
Handbrake Engaged During Weighing
Leaving the handbrake on introduces tension into the braking system, which can artificially shift weight across the suspension and drawbar.
This especially affects towball weight, often making it read higher than it would under normal towing conditions. It can also skew axle loads — particularly with electric or mechanical brake systems.
Once the van is safely chocked, the handbrake should be released to allow the suspension to settle naturally.
Mismatched Heights Between Car and Caravan
If you're weighing the car and caravan separately, both must be on the same horizontal plane.
If one sits higher or lower than the other, the drawbar angle changes and can significantly affect towball and axle weight.
To ensure accuracy, use levelling ramps or spacers under the caravan wheels to match the height of the scales used under the vehicle’s wheels. This keeps everything sitting as it would in real towing conditions.
Weight Supported Off the Scales When Chocking Wheels
We’ve seen wheel chocks or blocks placed on the ground next to the scales, unknowingly supporting part of the load off the pads.
This invalidates the reading — particularly axle loads.
Every point of contact — tyres, chocks, or supports — must be fully on the weighing platform. If it’s not passing through the scales, it’s not being measured.
Why This Matters
Getting it wrong can lead to:
• Undetected overloading of axles or towball
• Insurance complications in the event of an incident
• Poor handling, braking, or tyre performance
• Fines or vehicle defects from roadside inspections
At Weighed, we go to great lengths to ensure every weigh-in reflects how your setup actually sits on the road — not a distorted version caused by shortcuts or poor setup.
Every measurement is done with the correct geometry, full support on calibrated equipment, and an understanding of how suspension and load dynamics work.
If you're planning a trip, upgrading your caravan, or just want confidence in your numbers — get properly WEIGHED.
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A common oversight is failing to fully lift or remove the jockey wheel during the weigh-in. If it’s still in contact with the ground — even slightly — it can offload weight from both the axles and the towball, leading to false readings.
Also, if you typically remove your jockey wheel for travel, it should be returned to its normal travel position before weighing. Not doing so will skew the results.
Handbrake Engaged During Weighing
Leaving the handbrake on introduces tension into the braking system, which can artificially shift weight across the suspension and drawbar.
This especially affects towball weight, often making it read higher than it would under normal towing conditions. It can also skew axle loads — particularly with electric or mechanical brake systems.
Once the van is safely chocked, the handbrake should be released to allow the suspension to settle naturally.
Mismatched Heights Between Car and Caravan
If you're weighing the car and caravan separately, both must be on the same horizontal plane.
If one sits higher or lower than the other, the drawbar angle changes and can significantly affect towball and axle weight.
To ensure accuracy, use levelling ramps or spacers under the caravan wheels to match the height of the scales used under the vehicle’s wheels. This keeps everything sitting as it would in real towing conditions.
Weight Supported Off the Scales When Chocking Wheels
We’ve seen wheel chocks or blocks placed on the ground next to the scales, unknowingly supporting part of the load off the pads.
This invalidates the reading — particularly axle loads.
Every point of contact — tyres, chocks, or supports — must be fully on the weighing platform. If it’s not passing through the scales, it’s not being measured.
Why This Matters
Getting it wrong can lead to:
• Undetected overloading of axles or towball
• Insurance complications in the event of an incident
• Poor handling, braking, or tyre performance
• Fines or vehicle defects from roadside inspections
At Weighed, we go to great lengths to ensure every weigh-in reflects how your setup actually sits on the road — not a distorted version caused by shortcuts or poor setup.
Every measurement is done with the correct geometry, full support on calibrated equipment, and an understanding of how suspension and load dynamics work.
If you're planning a trip, upgrading your caravan, or just want confidence in your numbers — get properly WEIGHED.