CB Radio On 2015 Freightliner Cascadia

Truck is a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia. CB is a Cobra 29 chrome.

The truck has the built-in "integrated" am/fm/CB antennas. I installed my CB and calibrated it per the manuals instructions. I am only able to talk to others that are right next to me. The built-in SWF meter spikes when the mic is keyed up. I am unable to adjust the antennas since they are built into the body of the truck. Anyone else having this issue or know how to fix it?

Hey Cjoanz; when you say, "right beside me" do you mean you can see the other driver or their truck, or do you mean that they are within a few (<4) miles of you?

Also, you say the SWR spikes, but to what value is SWR going? You won't have an SWR reading until you transmit.

CJ - is it mounted at the rear of the cab (similar to link - http://www.wearecb.com/cb-antenna-kit-frieghtliner-cascadia.html)?

Also, is your radio stock or tuned up? If it's a stock radio, it almost sounds like there's a ground issue with the factory antenna.

CBs operate in the HF Spectrum, and HF does not like metal. Because pole antennas are omni-directional, and if they are mounted as noted in the picture than no matter what you will always have reception and VSWR issues. I bet if you didn't have a trailer on your 5th wheel you will notice your VSWR is operating close to within nominal range. What is most likely happening is that the HF wave are bouncing back from cab and trailer. Install an another ant (such is on mirror) and perform CB tuning instructions are directed in the manual and you should be good.

Good Morning Cjoanz,,,, I just thought I would give my thoughts on the cb situation there. I had the same antenna and the same problem in my 2014 freightliner cascadia. It used to frustrate me when I was headed West and an Eastbound driver would see me and ask me how Weather conditions were behind me. I calculated we could talk maybe 15 seconds and then it was all over. That antenna can hear in the listening mode much better than it can talk or transmit out. I would agree with Scott L. aka lawdog and say your best bet is to just be happy listening or else go and invest in one of those mounts for about $30.00 that use 2 of the cascadia mirror mounting bolt holes to hold it and then mount a real cb antenna to it. I also saw a one screw hole stud mount that just uses one of the mirror screws. Of course put the swr meter on it and check the match when you get it all in and done.... If you were to take and get a high power radio and run power into the stock cascadia antenna you'd run the risk of burning something up like the nice high power radio. I started thinking on how to remedy this problem a while back and I began taking photos of other cascadias and the antenna mounts. I will see if I can get a pic of the mount into this site.