CB Question(s)

Hey guys, Maybe a silly question but I've seen people talking about buying a CB - do trucks not come equipped w/ a CB? Or maybe people just like the upgraded / fancy ones? How important is getting a "good" one? Thoughts / advice on CB's? Thanks!

No, trucks won't come with a CB unless the previous driver left it in there. However, some trucks will come pre-wired for CBs (power wire & antenna coax).

Most stock CBs will come with the same basic functions. Some may have a few more bells and whistles, but it's totally unnecessary unless you're just into bells and whistles.

Some drivers will of course modify or upgrade their CB for more power/range, but again it isn't really necessary for basic operation. An off the shelf radio works just fine.

Thanks Turtle! Helpful info =)

My opinion is it IS worth $150 even if you don’t use it all the time. I’ve had experienced drivers lead me through truck safe routes around major accidents. That wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have a chance to communicate. Of course, return the favor when you can.

I can't agree more. I have never had a CB in a truck but used to have one in a couple of vans I had. They can be invaluable when trying to negotiate traffic and see what going on ahead on the road. If you put one in a truck you should probably put an antenna on each mirror if you can. This makes the CB directional up and down the road. The mirrors just happen to be the right distance apart (102") for the antennas to work right. if you don't do that you will have a CB that only works on one side of your truck. I have seen some information from the firestick antenna people saying that the coax in the truck manufacturers are putting in is junk, but it was 20 years old. They may have upgraded, but find out. Now if the truck isn't yours I wouldn't drill any holes. Talk to someone at the company to see what you can and can't do. The most important part of your CB is the antenna(s). Don't scrimp on them. Two names I know are good are Firestik and Wilson. You also need to get the antenna/coax system tuned to your radio with an SWR meter. No they don't come pre-tuned from the factory. Back in the day I had a CB in a Plymouth Satellite everyone swore was a base, it wasn't, I just got lucky and the CB and the coax/antenna were very well matched. Normally you want your SWR to be less than 2.0 to 1. Mine was about 1.2 to 1, a very good match. There is also some good information on www.firestik.com that you might want to read. If nothing else the CB can be very entertaining at times, or at least it used to be, it's been a long time since I had one in a vehicle.

Here's an article I found Dual Antenna Systems

And the Firestik web site tech library Firestik Library

If nothing else the CB can be very entertaining at times, or at least it used to be, it's been a long time since I had one in a vehicle.

They’re not- just this morning spent 45 minutes in Chicago traffic listening to a guy say “big booty Judy” over and over.

I can't even have a CB

I haven't gotten over this yet.

I mean I've seen a few other Schneider drivers with them but we aren't supposed to have one. But they have the hookups for them.

If nothing else the CB can be very entertaining at times, or at least it used to be, it's been a long time since I had one in a vehicle.

They’re not- just this morning spent 45 minutes in Chicago traffic listening to a guy say “big booty Judy” over and over.

Well if you'd ever met big booty judy you'd keep saying it too! The few times ive turned on the cb always ends up being hate speech whether its racial or sexual orientation. I have no reason to use one since i spend very limited time on the highway but will occasionally turn it on when im doing my end of day paperwork and listen to the dummies. Apparently some of those drivers werent hugged enough as children.

I've seen a few other Schneider drivers with them but we aren't supposed to have one.

Any idea why that is? I can understand they may feel they're a distraction but theyre also great for safety purposes (weather, hazards in roadway)

If you're not suppose to have one, then by all means don't put one in, I can see where they could be a distraction. As to "big booty Judy" I have run into the same sort of thing, and I either turned up the squelch or turned it off. I'm not saying to have it on constantly, but for up-to-the minute information or just a break from the radio/MP3 player they can be useful. But that's just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions.