If you've balked at spending hundreds -- or even thousands -- of dollars to buy an expensive drive-over scale, you might want to take a look at this new heavy-duty hydraulic scale that weighs "hanging" loads of up to 5,000 lbs.

"It's perfect for many jobs where accuracy to within 2 percent is adequate," says Craig Libuse, Sherline marketing director, noting that the scale sells comes with a hook at each end. "For example, we recently had a rash of orders from tobacco states because the government started offering a premium for tobacco bales delivered within a particular weight range. This scale is perfect for weighing loads as they go onto trucks or trailers."

With a hook at either end, the hydraulic scale can be suspended from a block and tackle, a front-end loader bucket, or even a forklift blade.

Libuse notes that the scale is not intended to weigh products that are sold by weight -- only to get approximate weights for loads. It's accurate to 2 percent at the mid-range and to 3 percent at the heaviest and lightest weights. A more accurate, but more expensive, version is available that's accurate to within 1 percent.

Both 2,000-lb. and 5,000-lb. scales are available.