As a truck driver, you need to be familiar with your truck and its parts. One of the parts you should be familiar with is the suspension gauge, as it helps scale and weigh the load on the truck. It helps prevent the overloading of the truck, which is why you should know how to read the Kenworth load suspension gauge.
The Kenworth suspension load gauge is easy to read-only after you calibrate it. Once you can calibrate your suspension load gauge, all you need to do is keep an eye on the scale for the readings. The Kenworth suspension load gauge is essential as it helps you manage the load you have on your truck.
How to Calibrate Your Kenworth Suspension Load Gauge
Calibrating your Kenworth suspension load gauge is quite simple. You only need to follow a series of simple steps to calibrate it and start your readings. Here are simple steps and procedures you can follow to calibrate your Kenworth suspension load gauge;
- Step 1: The first step to calibrating your suspension load gauge is to load your vehicle. Your vehicle needs to get loaded before you can begin to calibrate, as the load will serve as a means to get a neutral scale. Ensure you do not calibrate your load gauge empty.
- Step 2: The second step is to get the right load. Get a load of about 500 to 700kg or 1000 to 1500lbs or more to calibrate your load gauge. Place this load on your vehicle to begin your calibration process. Ensure the load does not exceed the legal limit for the axle group.
- Step 3: Get a certified in-ground scale and use it to obtain a loaded weight for the axle group attached to the Kenworth suspension load gauge. This will allow you to get an accurate reading of the loaded weight. With this in place, you are halfway in calibrating your Kenworth suspension load gauge.
- Step 4: Now, you need to park your vehicle on a level surface. After positioning your truck on a level surface, shift your transmission to neutral and set your vehicle’s parking brakes. After setting the parking brakes, you should check the wheels to prevent unexpected movements.
Further Steps for Calibration
- Step 5: After properly choking the wheels of your truck, you should release the service and parking brakes. With everything in place, your vehicle becomes secured to the position. And this allows you to calibrate the Kenworth suspension load gauge successfully.
- Step 6: Ensure the height control valve has completely inflated the airbags. If it hasn’t, you need to make sure this occurs. You might also need to expel the air in the suspension and allow the HCV to refill the system. It might take minutes to complete this process, so you will have to wait it out.
- Step 7: After getting all this done, you should get a flat head screwdriver to calibrate the Kenworth suspension load gauge. Use the screwdriver to manipulate the calibration screw until the dial reads the accurate scale. The readings of the dial need to match that of the certified scale weight. Yes! You are done with calibrating your Kenworth suspension load gauge.
Now that you have successfully calibrated your Kenworth suspension load gauge, you can proceed with your readings. You only need to check the dial readings to know what your loaded weight weighs. Ensure you do not exceed the load weight limit for the axle group for better performance.
What is the Highest Load My Truck Can Carry?
Trucks can carry a wide range of loaded weights depending on the engine’s capacity, functionality, and mechanical power. But regardless of how powerful your vehicle is, there is a legal limit to how much load your truck can carry. Exceeding this limit is illegal and can make you liable to some legal punishments.
A fully loaded truck should weigh about 80,000lbs, which is the maximum legal limit for a truck. An empty truck can weigh about 35000 lbs, which only allows a loaded weight of about 45000lbs for trucks with this weight. Whatever the weight of the truck, the legal gross vehicle weight should be 80000lbs.
If your truck has a single axle, then the legal weight limit is 20000lbs. The weight on the single axle should not exceed this limit, while tandem axles spaced about 40 to 96 inches should not exceed 34000 lbs. With your Kenworth suspension load gauge ready, you can keep track of your vehicle’s weight.
Conclusion
Reading Kenworth suspension load gauge is as simple as reading every other load gauge of your vehicle. You only have to make sure you calibrated it correctly for accurate readings. With proper calibration, you can keep track of your truck weight readings.
