2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner's Manual - Page 251

Vehicle Service and Care Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight. You can ask your dealer/retailer for our trailering information or advice, or you can write us at our Customer Assistance Offices. See Customer Assistance Offices on page 12-4 for more information. And if you tow a trailer, you must add the tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See Loading the Vehicle on page 8-32 for more information about your vehicle's maximum load capacity. 9-79 After the trailer is loaded, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they are not, you may be able to get them right simply by moving some items around in the trailer. Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires Be sure your vehicle's tires are inflated to the upper limit for cold tires. These numbers are located on the Tire and Loading Information label located on the vehicle's center pillar (B-pillar). See Loading the Vehicle on page 8-32. Then be sure you do not go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue. Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. If using a weight-carrying hitch or a weight-distributing hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B).