t2000 mpg?? and suspension question and input

[gcal]

looking at a 2002 kw t2000 with a Detroit 60 500hp and a 13 spd tranny and 3.55 ratio. anybody know what kind on mpg i should expect?
also does anybody know about the suspension problems they had? is the ag200 the old suspension and the ag400 the new one that fixed the problems?
please throw all the advice you have my way since im new to owning a piece this expensive. my last rig was a true "hoopty" as one here called it. lol and i learned the hard way. o well....
what should i expect from this rig?
i will be using it to pull my own 53 dry van on the west coast

[allan5oh]

I've heard those t2000's had problems with the doors. When you're up to speed, the door separates from the gasket, and you get a nice draft.

Don't know much about the suspension. I know it's the trailing arm suspension they had problems with, not the 8 bag suspension. Not a fan of the 8 bag suspension either, it's very torque responsive, not good.

[rank]

I've heard those t2000's had problems with the doors. When you're up to speed, the door separates from the gasket, and you get a nice draft.

We've got an '01 and it blows a hurricane through the drivers door. Finally found a dealer that could fix it. New gaskets IIRC.

Also, water leaks in from the top of the windshield...I caulked the exterior of the clearance lights and that seemd to help somewhat. I think they changed the design of those lights in later years but not sure.

As for the mpg, we get 7CDN (approx 5.6 US) from Kingston ON to Philly. 80,000 lbs one way, empty on the flip. 475 C15 CAT. 13 speed. 3.55, 22.5 rims. A 500 Detroit in a '01 Sterling with a 18 spd out pulls it on the PA hills.

hope this helps.

[gcal]

100 views and only 2 responses ?
what no one owned or owns a t2000? are4 they that bad? or what?

[BanditsCousin]

Since you are prompting my 2 cents...

I consider a T2000 a "freightliner with a KW badge on the grill"

Here is my thought on the T2000 I drove one for Millis Transfer in the 90's. Run as fast as possible from that PIECE OF JUNK THAT KW CAME OUT WITH. The one I drove I could not even stand up in I am 6-6 and even in the bunk I could not even stand up in the condo model. Rattled worse than even than Transtar 1 with the rubberblock suspension bobtail did and this T2 had the KW air ride on it.

I spent more time in the shop for electrical problems than running. There is no storage space in the cabinets I had more room in a 58inch mid roof century than in my T2 condo. CFI was buying T2 now they are buying T600's as fast as KW can make them anymore. I have never seen such a hunk of junk come out of such a well respected company.

[rvrjr7]

I too used to drive for Millis between 2004 and 2005 and my t2 wasnt too bad just a bear to back up sometimes. Id rather have the t6 myself because they look alot nicer

[geomon]

I wish I could see the designer that stuck those two "bug eyes" for headlights on the T2 and said...."ahhh my job here is done"...

[gcal]

thanks for the responses.
i went to Seattle and drove it and looked at it and came to the conclusion that it was crap. it rattles just like you say and the ride was no wear near as smooth as i expected and to top it off im 6'1 and felt very cramped in that sleeper and i was only there for a few minutes. i was very disappointed to say the least cause i really had my heart set on that t2000 but i guess it wasn't meant to be.

[rigidsporty]

I spent my first 3 weeks with CFI in a new (less than 90,000 miles) T2000 and it was a POS! It had the above mentioned air leaks and it rattled and shook like it was about to fall apart... but to answer the original question... in my short time in that truck I averaged about 6 MPG (I did reach 9 once). For the record I got the same mileage out of the T600... and its a MUCH better built truck. :wink: