[Jeepers Creepers]

Should I get a CB radio for my jeep? Whats the benefits of having one?

 

[2drx4]

Some clubs that do trail runs will require them, as they allow a limited degree of communication between rigs while on the trail. I have one, I've never used it.

Otherwise, they're fairly useless. Generally if a road is radio controlled, you need a FM or a HF (IIRC) radio to stop from getting smucked by a logging truck.

 

[Jeepers Creepers]

Oh. I was wondering how many times people use them.

 

[2drx4]

Lots of guys use them a lot. I don't. However, where I live now, it is a requirement of the club to have one. They're handy if you are running trails and somebody wants to warn others of a problem or potential problem, or just BS while driving.

 

[Jeepers Creepers]

oh ok. well I will get one then. Whats a good one to get.

 

[xjjeepthing]

Our club requires it, I have one with a weather band I love that featyre. Look at Cobra,Midland or Radio Shack. The antenna and coax are probably the most important part of it.

 

[Kyle]

I use one when im on the trail and sometimes when im on a long freeway ride I can pick up on the truckers talking.

 

[Jeepers Creepers]

whats a good antenna.

 

[Kyle]

I have a firestick and havent had any problems with it.

 

[Jeepers Creepers]

Whats a good length to have on a antenna

 

[Kyle]

Well im running a 3ft, but I think most run 4ft.

 

[jonb8]

I also run a 3ft, but I mounted mine on the fender, by the radio antenna.

 

[cosxjfan]

CBs can be extremely usful on the road. Truckers communicate a lot of traffic issues over channel 19, usually. There is a lot of BS to sift through sometimes, but they are a valuable asset to have on board. It could get you help in a break down situation on the freeway as well. I use one on the trail all of the time. The group I go with has them in all of the rigs.

 

[nick_n_ii]

I'm running a Cobra radio and a 5 foot Wilson 1000... I use it on the trail, and in area's that you can't get cell signal....

 

[TrueBlueXJ]

They do come in handy. Large group runs are fun, but I hate having to stop every few hundred feet because people don't have CBs. And in case something breaks on the trail, you can radio your group and let them know. And they're good for long highway drives when they might offer you a little heads up on traffic jams/accidents/weather, etc.

 

[kmanxj5050]

i have the cobra from wal mart and radioshack magnetic antenna, we use them somewhat out on the dunes. And i have picked up some truckers on the eway. And they are nice on the trail. I have like 50 bucks into mine :thumbsup:

 

[Jeepers Creepers]

I dont need a fancy one right?

 

[kmanxj5050]

mines not and im satisfied:cheers:

 

[Jeepin Jason]

Personally I couldn't imagine wheeling without a CB. Since virtually everyone I've ever wheeled with has one, you'd miss out on a ton of stuff on the trails. Simply being able to communicate with all the other vehicles you're out with really adds to the experience IMHO, and sometimes it can mean the difference between staying with the group and getting lost.

My first CB was an inexpensive Midland unit from Wal-Mart. I had a 4' fiberglass antenna from Radio Shack mounted to an endcap on the rear bumper. You can read my write-up on it here: http://jeepin.com/features/cb/

I've since upgraded to a Cobra 75WXST which is one of those units where everything is in the handset. I've also replaced the old antenna with a 2' tunable fiberglass whip by K40 that's now mounted on my front fender.

While they're generally not as good as a hard-mounted antenna, you can also use a magnetic mount antenna for general, close-range use (such as on the trail).

One thing that I think a lot of folks don't bother to do, but is very important to do, is making sure you've got a good SWR reading on your antenna. You can pick up an SWR meter for fairly cheap from Radio Shack or some place like that. And make sure you get an antenna that has some method of tuning it (usually this involves lengthening or shortening the tip somehow). Having a good (low) SWR reading means that you're making the most of your broadcasting and reception capabilities so you'll be able to pick up people further away, and that they'll be able to hear you too.

And if you really want to get technical on the installation, you can research ground planes for the antenna and other stuff.

 

[89xjgrey]

We, Empire Offroad, don't go anywhere without our CB radios...great communication between each other...places we go get no cell phone reception.