[JRTJH]

The most practical method would be to locate a CAT scale in your local area. Hitch the trailer complete with weight distribution bars and tow it to the scale. DO NOT drive onto the scale, park to the side, go into the facility and talk to the weigh master. Tell them you will need three weights. Then, after discussing the process with the weigh master, drive onto the scale. There are three weight pads. Pull forward until your tow vehicle front axle is on the forward pad, the rear axle is on the second pad and the trailer axles are on the third pad. Call the weigh master and get the weight. DO NOT MOVE ANYTHING. Loosen the weight distribution bars, but do not remove them. Just swing them slightly out of the way and call the weigh master for the second weight. Once that weight is completed, pull completely off the scale pads, tow the trailer out of the way and unhitch. DO NOT REMOVE THE HITCH HEAD OR THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION BARS. Drive the tow vehicle back onto the scale with the front and rear axles as close as you can get them to the previous location and call the weigh master for the third weight.

REMEMBER: TO BE ACCURATE, EVERYTHING (PASSENGERS AND CARGO) MUST BE THE SAME FOR ALL THREE WEIGHTS. If you have any passengers in the vehicle for the first weight, then they must be in the vehicle for every weight or your hitch weights will not calculate properly, so either go alone and sit in the driver's seat or step off the scale pads for ALL weights.

After all three weights are complete, drive off the scale pads, go inside get your weight documents and pay. The cost should be $11 for the first weight and $2 for each of the "reweighs" for a total of $15.

With the three weights you can calculate the hitch weight, the distributed hitch weight, the amount of weight distributed to the front tow vehicle axle and the amount of weight distributed to the trailer axles. You also will have the weight of your tow vehicle, the amount of weight that's on the front and rear axles when hitched and the total rig weight (GCW).

I would suggest doing this once or twice during the first year of towing, then repeat if you change anything significantly, whether it's the tension on your WD bars or a significant change in cargo. Once you get the feel of how much your rig weighs and what part of the weight is distributed to each axle, you'll be able to better manage what you load where, how you tow with tanks full/empty and you'll learn what to expect from towing performance even before you leave the driveway, because you'll know roughly where all of your weight is located and how the rig tows in that perspective.

ADDED: There are three CAT scales about 15 miles from Corona. They are the TA truck stop, the PETRO truck stop and Wriach Travel Center, all on I10, directly north of Corona.