Chevrolet Malibu 2003 Manual page 190

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. 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 Your Vehicle
on page 4-32 for more information about your
vehicle's maximum load capacity.
4-36
If you're using a weight-carrying hitch or a
weight-distributing hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should
weigh 10–15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you've loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then
the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If
they aren't, 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. You'll find these numbers on the
Tire-Loading Information label at the rear edge of the
driver's door or see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32 .
Then be sure you don't go over the GVW limit for
your vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue.