Mobile Weighing vs Public Weighbridges

Waine Vorley
Jan 8
3 min read

Why Accurate Weight & Balance Can’t Be Reduced to a Single Number

Caravan and towing compliance is becoming a major focus across NSW. Knowing your tow vehicle and caravan weights isn’t optional anymore — it’s critical for safety, legality, insurance, and vehicle longevity. For Illawarra travellers heading north, south, or inland, knowing your real towing weights is critical in determining how that weight is distributed.

Many caravan owners rely on public weighbridges for peace of mind. While they can confirm a total weight, they rarely tell the full story. At Clear Weight Mobile Weighing, we specialise in real-world, axle-by-axle assessments that reflect how your rig actually travels.

Let’s compare the two options.

Public Weighbridge VS Mobile Weighing Services

Public Weighbridges

Pros

Low cost or free
Quick gross weight confirmation
Useful as a basic reference point

Cons

Queues
Limited operating hours
Industrial locations potentially unsuitable for caravans
May not be able to un-hitch to get car & caravan weights
No individual axle weights
No tow ball download measurement
No insight into front vs rear axle or side loading (Centre of Gravity)
No interpretation, explanation, guidance or corrective advice
Often not weighed in full touring configuration (real world conditions)

A weighbridge ticket might say you’re “under GVM”, while your rear axle or caravan front axle is already overloaded.

Mobile Weighing Services

Pros

Individual axle weights for vehicle and caravan
Accurate tow ball mass measurement
Weighed exactly as travelled (fuel, water, passengers, gear)
On-site interpretation, explanation, guidance, corrective advice and education
Detailed written reports for insurance and records
Convenient — we come to you

Cons

Higher upfront cost
Booking required

Why Clear Weight Mobile Weighing Is Different

Clear Weight doesn’t just weigh your setup — we analyse it.

Most towing issues we uncover are not visible on a public weighbridge, including:

Hitched & Unhitched
With passengers, water, fuel, accessories, and personal gear
Rear axle overload
Uneven caravan axle distribution
Excessive ball weight transfer
Poor weight placement affecting stability and braking
Plus other metrics that impact caravan stability eg optimum tyre pressures, caravan symmetry & centre of gravity etc

· No guesswork. No assumptions.

These are the issues that impact:

Safety, stability
Insurance validity
Manufacturer limits
Long-term vehicle wear

Benefits of a Local Mobile Weighing Service

Clear Weight Mobile Weighing services:

· Wollongong

· Shellharbour

· Kiama

· Albion Park

· Surrounding Illawarra regions

We assess your rig:

· At your home

· At a storage facility

· At a caravan park

· Anywhere with a flat even surface

Fully loaded. Fully hitched. Fully accurate.

On-site education and adjustmentsClear Weight explains:

What the numbers mean
Where weight is loading up
How to redistribute mass
What simple changes can improve balance

Often, small adjustments can resolve big issues.

Valuable tool prior to spending big dollars

· Future modifications or upgrades

· Pre purchase assessments

Detailed reports for peace of mindClear Weight provides clear, written reports are ideal for:

Insurance records
Pre-trip checks
Warranty discussions

Final Word

Public Weighbridge	Mobile Weighing Service
Gross weight only	Full axle-by-axle data
Minimal insight	Detailed analysis
No guidance	Expert advice
Industrial locations	Weigh at home or convenient location
Cheaper	Higher value & accuracy