I have until tomorrow a '01 Chevy 2500HD with the 8.1L, I added airbags and the truck pulled very well. I have the 3055RL and the truck topped 10K on the scales with a 9.2K rating. The gas milage was also poor at 6 in the hills and 8 the best I got on flat interstate. I think it was the milage that convinced me to upgrade the most though I did not like being overweight even though I was under the rated trailering capacity. I pick up a 2011 GMC 3500 dually with the 6.6 duromax tomorrow so I will be way covered in the ratings. I now agree with what I have read for a couple years now which is don't push the limits and buy over so you are prepared for the future and not stressing the rig. Don't know which trailer you are going to pull but my opinion is if you are buying a truck then leave a bit of breathing room between what you are pulling and the max ratings.
