What Say You, Should I Get A CB Now And Try Using It Or Should I Wait To Get One Till I Get Assigned A Truck? Just A Technical Question.

So I have been considering getting a CB radio, because I have always wanted to talk to you truck drivers over the road and get their side of things and whatnot. My dad has had CB radios before in his pickup truck I always thought it was pretty cool. Now because I am going to be going into trucking pretty soon, have been thinking more about getting a CB radio and then that way I can talk to them when I come by them. I don't know how many will have their radios on but I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

Pluse on top of that I have watched bigrigvideos on the youtube channel and I see you can have some cool conversations with truckers on the road.

Just a technical question for all of you who have them. Would not mind, having one in the car because I have heard how helpful in the case of a emergency .

Thanks for the input.

I would wait until you get in your own truck. Getting a CB installed in a car can become an expensive proposition compared to what little use you will get from it. Most trucks have mount and antenna already installed. Just plug n play. For your personal vehicle you will have to get an antenna, wiring, CB mount, CB, etc.. if the CB is ran right you can fry stuff. If you don't have enough shielding on your wiring you can fry stuff. Today with so many on board electronics powering a car, you will have a lot to check. The more powerful your CB the more RMI produced.

Wow that is one thing I did not know about. I'll keep that in mind and might just go to the local truck stops and talk in person lol. Showee.

I would wait until you get in your own truck. Getting a CB installed in a car can become an expensive proposition compared to what little use you will get from it. Most trucks have mount and antenna already installed. Just plug n play. For your personal vehicle you will have to get an antenna, wiring, CB mount, CB, etc.. if the CB is ran right you can fry stuff. If you don't have enough shielding on your wiring you can fry stuff. Today with so many on board electronics powering a car, you will have a lot to check. The more powerful your CB the more RMI produced.

Probably not really going to fry stuff at that low a wattage. There's no "more powerful" - unless you purchase a modified rig - which most novices aren't going to do anyways.

I have a Wilson 5000 Magnetic Mount Antenna, that's tuned for my CB - I can throw it on my current 4-wheeler, rental car, etc. - if I need a CB (usually only use it for road trips), and I have a 2nd Power Cable for my Cobra CB that has a 12V Power Point (aka: lighter Socket) so I don't have to try and hardwire it into anything.

As far as getting one BEFORE you go out for training...

If you find one you like ON SALE you could pick it up and leave it home - then grab it on a hometime or have it shipped to the terminal for you.

EVERY TRUCK STOP SELLS CB'S. A great many of them have a RADIO SHOP NEARBY to do your install and make sure your wiring and antenna are OK.

Since you're going to be on SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUCK while you train and SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM - the less you bring with you during that period (that you don't need during that period - like say, your own CB) the better.

Coin toss...

Rick

Ok Well that sounds more like it. I appreciate all the advice. So Rick my question is, would it be possible to install in my 4 wheeler just so that I can talk to truckers and get to know a few of them because I always thought that it would be cool to turn my CB on and talk to truckers as I am traveling especially if I am driving up to PA to see my Grandparents?

Good luck finding many Truckers that even have it turned on unless there is weather or traffic. Mine stays silent for hours on end. Although, when I drive through Las Vegas, there is a Truck Wash that comes through Loud and Clear. I couldn't even tell you the exit. It seems Cell Phones have all but killed the CB Radio for chatting and entertainment purposes.

My supervisor at work has a CB in his F150. He recently added a better antenna to get more range. He says he uses it all the time and helps him a lot. It helps him in traffic and sometimes helps him pass safely around trucks. So, I feel if you want one get one. In the 70's everyone had one in their car. You could probably get a hand held CB or like Rick has, something that plugs into a cigarette lighter. Good luck.

Ok I will look at the CB area at the Flying J up near me. I know that they even have a couple of them that have radio stations like music and all that. Pretty neat. Thanks for the advice! Could you all name off a few that are really realiable?