using cb while towing rv

[rrohrer]

anyone have a cb in their truck. i came upon a uniden for free AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE GOOD IDEA TO KEEP an ear out for road conditions and maybe just some entertainment. anyone have anything good/bad to say about the idea. thought i might get a wilson little wil 36" mini whip. not real expensive or huge. just wondered if anyone else on tyhe boards here uses one.

[jtyphoid]

I use one on interstate trips. They can be useful for advance warning about weather, road conditions, and traffic.

However, some of the language can be somewhat unsuitable for young or sensitive ears.

[hankpage]

I have had CB in all of my trucks since the '60s. In the past 10 years the only time I turn it on is in traffic back-ups or bad weather. If you have children with you, you don't want them to be able to hear it. (language is vulgar at best) It has helped me detour around road closers many times and combined with GPS traffic warnings can allow you to get off the highway safely before getting stuck in delays. If you do get one, in my opinion, the least you say the better ... listen and you usually get what you need to know. JM2¢, Hank

[hoffbrew]

Do any mfg's make a portable CB? So you dont have to mount a big antenna? Just wondering, would be cool to have on long trips.

[rrohrer]

thanks. i was thinking inappropriate content/language might be an issue. I do have kids so i'll use caution. thanks for that heads up

[Western Traveler]

Many years ago I bought a handheld CB (Radio Shack I think) and a magnetic mount roof antenna. Used to fish the wire through my cabs back sliding window. It worked pretty darn good. I saw it sitting on a shelf the other day and was considering dragging it out again.

[mazboy123]

waste of time. use your smart phone.

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by mazboy123

waste of time. use your smart phone.

I'm curious???? How do you talk to someone you don't know on a smart phone? Is there an app for that?

[vicali]

I ran a CB for a long time in my previous truck, it was neat but not all that useful.. Now I run dual band HAM, much more range, useful in emergencies, and much more fun to play with.

[antiqfreq]

We have a CB in our truck. We used it when traveling cross country with friends of ours and we were in separate units driving with each other. It was very helpful then.

Otherwise only used it a few times when bad weather or traffic jams and it was useful then.

Now that we don't travel fulltime anymore, haven't even turned it on.

Jo

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

10-4 Rubber Duck!

hankaye

[Old Bear]

I totally quit using CB due to the constant foul language and threats of various forms of violence. Quite pathetic. And I used to be a big CB nut! Anyway, I run Waze on my smartphone. Not only does it regularly tell me of traffic jams, debris on the road, po-po up ahead and such, it will also provide the best detour in real time! This does have less value in areas where there are not many Wazers (travelers using Waze and submitting road info) around. But then, a CB likely would not be of much use either then.

[Roller4Tan]

There's an app for that. It's called Waze. Warns you of construction, police, disabled vehicles on the shoulder, inclement weather, etc. So you can use your smart phone...

[allmi01]

I've never towed without one over the last 27 years. I turn it on when traveling on interstates and state highways as someone behind me can see things I can;t like dragging sewer hoses and tires with issues.

Are there other tools, yes but this one works well. A lot less truck drivers use them anymore due to the same issues with language raised earlier. They do still have them though and can use them when needed.

Just another tool on the tool box as far as I am concerned. I don't rely on smart phone apps, especially those that require data linkage as you don;t always have coverage and most of those type of services are built around and for urban areas. They don't help so much when you are in the boonies.

My .02 cents worth.

Mike

[jsmith948]

CB radio - indispensable tool of the OTR trucker in the 70s & 80s (before cell phones). Just had to have it to have up to the minute smokey reports, weather advisories, and "hey northbound are the Bend scales open?". Had a Golden Eagle base station with a 4 element Moonraker directional beam and a 5000 watt linear amplifier. Used to 'shoot skip' all over the country (yes I was a CB outlaw). However, I never used foul language and never got into the "CB Rambo" thing with the threats of violence, etc. I don't have a CB in our rig and don't think I would want one, given the current state of the CB world. Another fun pastime that has fallen victim to our society's loss of civility.

[Hoojs12840]

I have one. I work for a trucking company so if I see one out drivers ill say hi, but normally it's off unless traffic/accident or bad weather. The NOAA weather band is more accurate than any app I have. Also it's nice if you need a truck driver to check out the side or back of your RV if you need to.

The language and BS on them is ridiculous, between that and what I see crawl out of trucks I hang my head in shame about my industry.

[Jim Dow]

Get the WAZE app for your smart phone to see the traffic situation and get a weather app for your smart phone. Then you don't have to put up with the vulgar language of those who just need to be vulgar.

[Ken / Claudia]

I cannot speak for any other states but, here OSP troops by rules/regs say they must monitor CB 9, 17, 19. In the metro it is not possible at times due to high traffic on the police radio/computer. On the open road it can get you assistance faster than dailing 911. I got afew drunks and hazardous people off the road by truckers radioeing me. As others say, it is not for children to hear some of the people talking on them.

[pmedic433]

I have a Galaxy 979 and a skip shooter antenna, works very well. Only problem now is since we bought the Cougar I have to move the antenna! I mainly use ours on some of the less popular channels with friends at work. Cuts down on the vulgar chatter. Real curious about the SWR when I move the antenna to behind the cab and the Cougar hooked up!