How to Weigh a Caravan at a Weighbridge: A Repeatable Australian Process

A trip to the weighbridge isn't about getting one number and calling it done. It's about building up a proper picture of what your rig actually weighs when it's loaded, so you know exactly where you stand against your limits.

Find somewhere that can actually help you

Look up a public weighbridge near you and ring ahead — ask about access, fees, how long the platform is, and whether they'll let you uncouple the van if you need to. Don't just rock up and try to work it out on the day, and don't hold up an operating lane while you figure it out.

Ask straight up whether they can give you individual axle readings, not just one number for the whole rig — a single total isn't much use if you want to check things properly.

Know what you're comparing each reading to

Before you go, get your head around what each measurement actually tells you:

• Your whole loaded caravan compares against its ATM.
• The caravan's wheels while it's hooked up and travelling compares against its GTM.
• Your tow vehicle while it's hooked up compares against its GVM.
• The whole combination, hooked up compares against its GCM.

Keep the load consistent between weighs — same people, same fuel, same water in the tanks — otherwise you're not comparing like with like.

Before you go

• Decide what load you want to test — your actual travel load is usually the most useful thing to check.
• Load it up the way you'd actually travel: passengers, fuel, food, water, gas, tools, bikes, the lot.
• Write down your fuel and tank levels and who's in the vehicle.
• Grab every rating you'll need — GVM, GCM, ATM, GTM, front and rear axle, caravan axle group, tyres, towbar and coupling.
• Ring ahead and confirm the weighbridge can actually give you the readings you need.

A sequence that works

1. Weigh the loaded tow vehicle on its own first, axles separately if you can.
2. Weigh the whole combination hooked up together.
3. Weigh just the caravan's wheels while it's still hooked up.
4. Unhook the van, support the jockey wheel, and weigh the whole caravan by itself.

Read the results properly

Compare like with like — loaded caravan against ATM, caravan wheels against GTM, tow vehicle against GVM, axle readings against axle ratings. Passing one check doesn't mean you've passed them all — check every single one.

If something's over

Change one thing at a time — take weight out, move it around, check your tank levels, relocate gear — then go back and reweigh. Moving weight to fix one problem can easily create another, especially with front/rear balance and tow-ball weight.

When to go back and do it again

Any time you add gear — batteries, solar, boxes, bikes, a generator, bigger tyres — go back and reweigh. Same if you change tow vehicles or your typical travel load changes. Some states also want a weighbridge ticket for registration in certain situations, so check with your own state's authority.

Safety boundary: General Australian information only. A weighbridge result doesn't replace the manufacturer's instructions, current law or qualified engineering advice.

Follow the full sequence in the Caravan Weights & Towing hub: understand the ratings, estimate the load, then verify actual measurements.