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Yes,I still use CB's. I've got one in the big truck, and one in the 150, and would put one in the Ranger if I could figure out a good place.
In the 150, I got one of those small, compact Midlands, and mounted it in the cubby hole under the AC controls. I also use a "LilWill" base loaded magnet mount, stuck on just forward of the highmount brakelight, and installed a remote speaker just in front of the drivers seat on the floor.
I wouldn't have a big truck without one, even though the newer generation of drivers can't/won't use one. Those things can save your ***, but that only works if you have a couple guys that aren't afraid to give info. Then there is a certain group that love their sound effects, like the "good buddy beep", among others, then the salesmen, then the preachers, then the lawyers, then the lover boys. But you learn to ignore them, and I've found the further north you go, the quieter it gets, but most guys where I go have them, and use them. Just not for stupidity.
Best radio I had was a Connex 949 i think with a Wilson 5000 peaked and tuned with talk back in my old Sonoma ZR2. Nite I have a very small radio shack brand or Midland radio with an swr meater I keep attracted to it with a Wilson 1000 i think mag mount. I just plug into 12v plug on radios trip and put it in the passenger seat
I have a cobra radio and use a 4ft fire stick with a quick disconnect behind my toolbox that way it removes easily when not using it. When it's not on you can't even tell I have a cb from the outside of the truck.
I'm a service guy that covers about 70K miles a year. I used to have a cb in my work truck all the time. Never talked much unless I notice a big truck with a problem (like a smoking brake or tire coming apart). Or for giving the go ahead for a lane change. However it was most valuable on the major highways. The highway reports and radar warnings were invaluable.
Oddly enough I haven't bothered to install one in my work trucks for a few years, I've debated it off and on, but just never really bothered to. I've slowed down a fair bit in my old age, and am just not in a hurry to get anywhere often. So I am quite happy to sit in traffic for a bit now and then.
Best radio I had was a Connex 949 i think with a Wilson 5000 peaked and tuned with talk back in my old Sonoma ZR2. Nite I have a very small radio shack brand or Midland radio with an swr meater I keep attracted to it with a Wilson 1000 i think mag mount. I just plug into 12v plug on radios trip and put it in the passenger seat
I've got 3 Unidens, 2PC78 Elites, and a PC68, XLT I think it is.
I also have a Galaxy 949, that's my favorite, but won't put it in my big truck, sometimes someone else drives my truck, and I just don't trust others with my radios. When someone else drives my truck, they usually crank up the mike gain all the way, along with the RF gain. Who knows why.
I also go on dumpers that have vibrators to shake the load out, and I already lost one radio due to it being shaken a few too many times.
Oh, BTW, whatever radio you have, it's only as good as your antennae, so be sure to get a good one, along with a good ground. You can make a little Midland compact, talk/sound as good as a multi hundred dollar unit.
I've got 3 Unidens, 2PC78 Elites, and a PC68, XLT I think it is.
I also have a Galaxy 949, that's my favorite, but won't put it in my big truck, sometimes someone else drives my truck, and I just don't trust others with my radios. When someone else drives my truck, they usually crank up the mike gain all the way, along with the RF gain. Who knows why.
I also go on dumpers that have vibrators to shake the load out, and I already lost one radio due to it being shaken a few too many times.
Oh, BTW, whatever radio you have, it's only as good as your antennae, so be sure to get a good one, along with a good ground. You can make a little Midland compact, talk/sound as good as a multi hundred dollar unit.
Just a few weeks ago, I mimicked the set up on my former Nissan Frontier by using same Cobra 75WXST in combo w/ remote mounted Cobra speaker, mic extension cable plus Wilson antenna and gumdrop mount. BTW, I've used this same radio model in my jeep for 15 yrs (3rd unit currently due to more delicate electronics which tend to fail faster during rough trail use).
In my F150 application, only drilled one 5/8" hole through rear bumper plastic cap while slightly enlarging existing hole in stamped steel below. Routed coax and tie-wrapped along and above passenger frame rail and entered rear cab through plastic hole plug under door sill (*). This radio model uses a remote "junction box" for power connections (**), coax plug plus port for remote speaker jack (* use coax w/ threaded detachable coax connector allowing pass-through on smaller diameter holes; ** all of that attached next to Sony subwoofer mtg brkt and wired temporarily to rear 12V plug w/ optional extension cable allowing main mic unit (delicate electronics within) to be in easy reach for use while being out of the way otherwise.
My purpose for CB stems from many years offroading where its primary form of communication to adjacent vehicles. Likewise, its handy during travels in "convoy mode" w/ other vehicles out on the highway. I'll use it in my truck for SAR missions on FS roads when storage in the truck is more suitable vs nimbleness of the jeep.
No, that Wilson 4' antenna is fairly rigid and positioned far enough outboard to avoid contact during normal motion. I could slip a tennis ball over the mast for add'l protection but doubt it'll be needed since it wasn't on my former Nissan in similar position...
10-07-2014, 07:58 AM
