Kenworth T2000

Big motor for garbage hauling! Also those rear ends are too high for a cat motor. Cats like low rpm's. My 475 cat with the same rear gears averages 5mpg with a light 20k load. Loaded to 80k and running 75mph will get me a whopping 3.8 to 4mpg.
A cat can get decent mileage (not great) but they need low rpm. That 18 speed will help a bit but not much.

 

These trucks have a bad problem with big time windnoise through the doors. You can literally see the wind pushing the door open and closed, and it gets really bad in a crosswind.

Might not be bad when they are new, but for a 2003, I would pay attention to this. Might not sound like a big deal, but it will be after putting up with the noise for 2-3 hours straight.

 

The T-800 roll off I ran for my cousins business has 4.33 rears and 425 cat. Needed every bit of them at the landfill. Mmostly ran 1st with the bed up and when it rains. The truck pulled like a monster. Fuel mileage sucks... top speed was about 72mph and that was screamin...

The T2000, I've heard some good and bad about them, but not too much. I figure its about like any other truck.

 

Raise the hood, look at the motor, and ask yourself, how in the world am I going to get in there to work on anything.

If you can't, a mechanic won't want to either, and will charge you dearly when he has to.

Besides, the trucks are loud, and the plastic doors won't shut tight. The floorboard is made of plastic too.

If you are hauling mostly road, the 3.91 might be OK if you have 24.5 tires. 3.70 or 3.55 would be better.

If you are going to be on 55 mph roads, and in the dirt some, the the 3.91 will be as tall a gear as you want, maybe even a 4.10 would be better.

22.5 tires will gear the truck lower also.

You don't want to be geared so high as to burn your clutch out on a regular basis trying to get moving in the dirt.

If you are going to do both road and dirt, then get 3.70 - 3.55 with a 15 speed.

This way you will have deep reduction for off road, and a good overdrive for the road.

 

And I am happy to say that unless something goes drastically wrong between now and Wednesday, I am making the last trip in the 2002 T2000 that I am currently driving.

A new blue 387 should be rolling into the yard during my run to Georgia and back this week

 

Like has been said already, the doors are very noisy. It will get on your nerves quick! Plus if it has the bottom bunk windows, the sills and stuff tend to start falling apart and rattling. Just doesn't seem to be a well built truck period.