Today we compare two industrial low-profile floor scales from Rice Lake: the RoughDeck HP and the Summit 3000. While both are robust, legal-for-trade floor scales, each is optimized for different environments and performance needs. Which one do you need?
RoughDeck HP Features & Strengths
Let’s start with the RoughDeck HP. This is Rice Lake’s high-performance structural steel low-profile scale.
Key highlights include:
Heavy-duty construction: The RoughDeck HP uses a structural steel channel frame with a diamond treadplate deck, built for industrial environments (abrasion, impact).
NTEP / legal-for-trade configuration: It ships ready for trade use, with factory trim and calibration (i.e. corner corrections done at the factory) or you can order just the scale itself.
Load cells & cable: It includes four NTEP-certified shear beam load cells.
Low profile / size ranges: Offered in many deck sizes (e.g. 2.5 × 2.5 ft up to 5 × 7 ft) and capacities from 1,000 lb up to 10,000 lb in many versions.
Robust options & customization: You can choose top-access junction boxes, smooth decks (instead of diamond plate), epoxy paint, bumper guards, portability frames, pit frames, ramps, etc.
Overload & end-load capacity: Designed to tolerate end-loading; for example, the 1,000 lb versions allow 200% end load tolerance, while higher-capacity units provide 100% (or 80% in the 10,000 lb version).
Warranty structure: The weldment is guaranteed 5 years, Rice Lake load cells 2 years, and other components 1 year.
Maintainability: Side-access junction boxes make servicing easier; the heavy-duty frame and rugged design aim for longevity in harsher conditions.
In extreme washdown or corrosive environments, you may want to look at upgrading your load cells to hermetically sealed cells and/or choosing a stainless steel or Roughdeck HE.
For very high-capacity, Rice Lake also offers a variant “RoughDeck HP-H” for 20,000–30,000 lb ranges.
Summit 3000 Features & Strengths
Now, let’s look at the Summit 3000. This is positioned as a value or mid-tier low-profile floor scale for industrial and legal-for-trade applications.
Design & structure: The Summit 3000 has a steel diamond treadplate deck over structural channels, engineered for durability, but without some of the “heavy-duty overbuild” of the RoughDeck HP.
Load cells, junction box & cable: Four NTEP-certified Celtron alloy steel shear beam load cells. It includes a top-access junction box with a signal-trim summing board in an ABS enclosure, and 20 ft of EL147 load cell cable.
Footing & leveling: Uses four adjustable rigid polyurethane rubber feet (3 in / 76 mm diameter) for leveling.
Lifting & installation: Has a central threaded eyebolt hole (½-20 NF) for lifting.
Range of sizes & capacities: Available from 3 ft × 3 ft up to 5 ft × 5 ft (or 60 in × 60 in) and capacities from 2,000 lb to 10,000 lb (or metric equivalents).
End load & overloading: End load capacity matches RoughDeck in many ranges — 100% of full scale at 2,000 lb and 5,000 lb, 80% at 10,000 lb.
Warranty & approvals: Warranty is 2 years for weldment and load cells, and 1 year for other parts. It is NTEP certified (Class III, 5,000 divisions) and approved for Measurement Canada in applicable models.
Corner trimming & calibration: The Summit 3000 is shipped pre-trimmed (corner corrections done at factory), and the junction box is top-access for any future trimming or calibration. You can also order the Summit 3000 without an indicator if needed.
Installation flexibility: Offers optional pit frames, access ramps, anchoring plates.
The Summit 3000 is less heavy-duty than RoughDeck HP, so while it handles many typical industrial loads it might not be ideal in extreme or heavy usage situations. For applications with frequent washdowns or harsh environments, you’d likely need to upgrade to a Roughdeck HP or Roughdeck SS version. The Summit 3000 is a simpler lighter weight choice that makes it slightly more cost-effective in light industrial settings.
Let’s put them side by side and see where each shines:
| Feature | RoughDeck HP | Summit 3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Robustness / Heavy-duty use | Built for rugged, high-stress industrial environments; stronger frame, higher overload tolerances | Solid design but lighter; better suited to typical light-to-mid industrial use |
| Customization & options | Wide variety: Sizes, Capacities, ramps, bumper guards, portability frames, etc. | Offers ramps, pit frames, anchor plates; less options set but covers many use cases |
| End-load / Overload tolerance | 200% for some low-capacity units, 100% for many, 80% at 10,000 lb | 100% at 2,000 and 5,000 lb; 80% at 10,000 lb |
| Warranty | 5 years on weldment, 2 years on load cells, 1 year others | 2 years on weldment & load cells, 1 year others |
| Ease of service / maintenance | Good | Good |
| Cost / Value | Higher up-front cost but designed to last for many years | More economical for standard light industrial warehouse use |
| Ideal environments | Recycling Center, Heavy manufacturing, Landscaping Yard | Warehouses, packing lines, moderate use areas where durability is still needed but extremes are rare |
If your use case involves heavy loads and rigorous industrial environment the RoughDeck HP is the safer bet. If you’re looking for good performance at lower cost in a moderately demanding setting, the Summit 3000 provides much of the needed functionality without over-engineering.
Another important consideration to think about is the digital weight indicator. The Roughdeck has multiple choices available for indicators. By default the Summit 3000 only has a couple of choices. We can do special orders with the Summit 3000 if needed. For example, you might want to buy a Summit 3000 with a Rice Lake 380 weight indicator.
CONCLUSION
In summary, both the RoughDeck HP and Summit 3000 share many core features — four NTEP-certified load cells, low-profile deck, legal-for-trade capabilities, and optional ramps. But the RoughDeck HP is built for more extreme environments and heavier duty, with greater overload tolerance and a longer structure warranty. The Summit 3000 offers a more cost-efficient option for many industrial and commercial settings, with solid reliability for basic light industrial environments.
So, which scale would we recommend for you? If you operate a landscaping yard where you sell rock by the pound or a recycling center or perhaps you’re planning on putting the scale outdoors, then we would recommend the Roughdeck HP.
If you’re operating a warehouse and you need a couple of floor scales nearby to weigh the shipments coming and going, the Summit 3000 would work well for your application.