actually if you want to do it properly you need to weight the front axle, and the back axle loaded and unloaded, then while loaded you weigh the trailer at the wheels.
this will tell you if you have taken too much from the front and need to adjust the hitch weight, and if you add all three loaded numbers together you get a good accurate idea of the total combined vehicle weight.
Or you could use a regular scale and weigh the landing leg with the hitch at the same height it would be at if attached to the vehicle.. it should be 8-10% of the trailers weight..
You may need to get a Weight Watcher power user scale if your trailer exceeds say 5000 pounds.
Now if you've packed 2000 pounds of luggage in the back of your pickup you may exceed your rear axle weight....
I've had vehicles that NO way looked safe, and compiled all the numbers, front axle, rear axle, tongue weight.. trailer weight etc.. etc.. and the people supposedly in the know tell me.. "It's good to go!!" If I saw the vehicle in the Wal Mart parking lot I'd snicker and tell my kids to stay the hell away, but I guess looks are deceiving.. like when it looks like the front wheels are almost off the ground..
