Checking a used truck cab before you buy

Before you go

• Confirm the cab matches your truck’s make, model, years and cab type. See how to find your truck’s model, year and VIN.
• Read the listing’s Included with this cab list, and note what you still need from your old cab.
• Take photos of your truck’s cab, a torch, a tape measure and a small magnet.
• Ask for extra photos of anything you’re unsure about, and book a time to view.

1. Rust

Rust is the most expensive thing to find late. Look closely at:

• the floor and its seams, from inside and underneath
• the lower corners of the cab and the bottom of the back wall
• the bottoms of the doors and the door openings (sills)
• the windscreen frame and the roof gutters
• around the steps and the cab mounting brackets, where water collects

Surface rust can be treated. Rust that has eaten through the metal, especially around the mountings, is a reason to walk away.

2. Accident damage and old repairs

• Panel gaps: uneven gaps around the doors and front panel point to a bent cab.
• Doors: they should open and close easily and line up with the body lines.
• Filler: a magnet won’t stick to thick body filler. Wavy panels, and paint on rubbers or seals, also show where repairs were made.
• Pillars and roof: creases, ripples or welding marks mean the structure has been damaged.
• Windscreen frame: if the frame is out of shape, the glass won’t seal.

3. Mounting points and the tilt mechanism

A truck cab sits on mountings and tilts forward on hinges for access to the engine. Check:

• the tilt hinges and their brackets, for cracks, wear and welding repairs
• the mounting brackets, for cracks and stretched or worn bolt holes
• the cab lock and its striker

Bent or cracked mountings affect how the cab sits and tilts, so they matter more than a dent in a panel. Mountings and tilt parts are also sold separately: see cab mountings, tilt and locks.

4. Doors, hinges and locks

• Lift each open door: play in the hinges means worn pins or bushes.
• Try the handles, the locks and the window winders, manual or electric.
• Check the door seals and the inner door panels.

5. Glass, lights and mirrors

• Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen and the rear window.
• Check the mirror glass and arms, and the light lenses and their mounting tabs.

6. Interior and trim

Compare what you see with the listing’s included list: the roof (dome) lining, rear wall lining, floor mat, dashboard, seats, seat belts and sun visors. Look for missing clips, broken mounting points and water stains, which can point to leaking seals.

7. Wiring and connections

Check whether the wiring loom is in the cab and complete, or has been cut. Look at the connectors where the cab joins the chassis, and at any heater or air-conditioning pipes. A cut loom can be repaired, but it adds workshop time.

8. The paperwork

Buy from an established seller who gives you an invoice. The cab is a body part: your truck keeps the VIN on its chassis. If an identification plate is fitted to the cab, ask your registering authority how to handle it before the cab goes on.

Quick checklist

Viewing cabs at C.A.B.S

Every cab on our site lists exactly what is fitted. Viewing at our yard in Aureus, Randfontein is by appointment: WhatsApp or call 082 300 5322 to book a time, or ask us for extra photos first. Browse all our truck cabs.