RV'er Would Like to use CB to Contact Truckers for Info

[smcrea]

We have an RV ttravel Trailer which works out to be a 50' long rig.

Quite often we take long road trips and are sometime searching for places to pull over and spend the night.

I was thinking that truckers have the best info on this and had in mind that they may be willing to help with some advise.. not just idle chatter.

With this in mind what would be the best frequency band CB to get and what channels would you recommend to contact truckers to get a heads up on where to pull over for the night?

After driving many thousands of miles I've learnt to respect the truckers and they seem to sypathise with me when pulling my rig

 

[pjtnascar]

Any 40 channel CB will do the trick. Generally, truckers are on channel 19. I like the new style Uniden radios.

 

[smcrea]

Thanks

They seem to be quite cheap these days so I may just invest in one before our next trip!

Thanks for the info

 

[russellmaher]

Just looking at the CB radios at Home - at Uniden and there are a couple of units that are marked down from retail. This radio(SKU: PC68LTW) is selling for $89.99 down from $149.99, so that's a big savings, and orders over $50 qualify for free ground shipping. I'm liking that one...do believe it's going into my shopping cart!

Russell

 

[sloop]

Whatever brand CB you get try to get one with weather alert. It is really a handy feature to have if you travel alot. I have a Cobra 25 wxnwst...the weather alert stays on even when the rig is off (provided its power is connected to the battery).

 

[70cutlass442]

DONT FORGET!!! the rule of thumb goes, if you have $100 to spend on a CB. buy a $20 radio and an $80 antenna! I have had very good luck with the Wilson 1000. good luck!

 

[Phreakin318]

DONT FORGET!!! the rule of thumb goes, if you have $100 to spend on a CB. buy a $20 radio and an $80 antenna! I have had very good luck with the Wilson 1000. good luck!

i would have to agree with this guy^^^ brand wise cobra29 would be my pick,can usually get them at radioshack or on ebay pretty cheap, seen one the other day on facebook groups they was asking$30 for it and wasnt anything wrong with it. you can get them pretty cheap nowdays.

 

[Rt169Radio]

If I was getting a CB I would get the Cobra 29 WXNWST with a Wilson CB antenna.

 

[eyegor]

Everyone has given you great advice about hardware. Please allow me to give you my view on the other part of your question:

Truckers and RV'ers have always seemed to have a love/hate relationship with each other. While most respect what the other guy is doing, there are always a couple idiots in each camp that can ruin it for everybody.

In general, when I am out with the RV, I try hard not to take parking spots from the trucks. These guys are working. I'm normally on vacation. If you stop at truck stops try to avoid the truck parking if possible. It will be much noisier and will likely cause a few bad feelings. FlyingJ almost always have room for RVs up front somewhere. Other truckstops may or may not. If stopping at a highway rest area, if it looks crowded I will use several of the auto parking spots before taking a truck spot. If there is plenty of room, no problem. Remember, as RV'ers we have a few other options for overnight parking that truckers don't.

Back to the radio. In addition to Ch 19 for highway use in most of the US, there is also the unofficial "RV channel" on Ch 13. While I like the idea, and encourage it, I find very few RVers who monitor 13. Most are on 19. Perhaps we could use 19 as a "calling channel" and then move to another (like 13) to ragchew.

Stay safe and hope to see ya on the road.

 

[newsphotog]

Everyone has given you great advice about hardware. Please allow me to give you my view on the other part of your question:

Truckers and RV'ers have always seemed to have a love/hate relationship with each other. While most respect what the other guy is doing, there are always a couple idiots in each camp that can ruin it for everybody.

In general, when I am out with the RV, I try hard not to take parking spots from the trucks. These guys are working. I'm normally on vacation. If you stop at truck stops try to avoid the truck parking if possible. It will be much noisier and will likely cause a few bad feelings. FlyingJ almost always have room for RVs up front somewhere. Other truckstops may or may not. If stopping at a highway rest area, if it looks crowded I will use several of the auto parking spots before taking a truck spot. If there is plenty of room, no problem. Remember, as RV'ers we have a few other options for overnight parking that truckers don't.

Back to the radio. In addition to Ch 19 for highway use in most of the US, there is also the unofficial "RV channel" on Ch 13. While I like the idea, and encourage it, I find very few RVers who monitor 13. Most are on 19. Perhaps we could use 19 as a "calling channel" and then move to another (like 13) to ragchew.

Stay safe and hope to see ya on the road.

This is good advice and also interesting to read as a non-RV'er. Thanks!

 

[ff-medic]

In case your mobile CB goes bad, or "goes on the fritz", use a portable. Also, portable are a great investment when away from the RV, and you want to communicate back to it. You can turn the squelch up on the handheld CB, and use it to monitor close transmissions, or the weather.

The 1st model - comes with an outside antenna.


Cobra HH-roadtrip Handheld CB Radio | Overstock.com
Cobra Handheld CB Radio with 10 Weather Channels, 40-Channel CB Radio, Portable CB Radio, Handheld CB Radio

----------------------------------


Although not what I consider the best of brands, here is some good mobiles and great prices. Midlands, I like for talking car to car ( friend/relative) when driving, or in a small town ( just my preference folks ) where you just talk a short distance, for a "Community conversation" If you want to talk "down the road a piece" , and be able to communicate a distance - I recommend "Unidens"

https://midlandusa.com/cb-radios/products/


CB radios are 27 MHZ radios. Unlike most other two way radios, they utilize the "AM" band, so you can talk farther than you think with a CB radio, especially in higher elevations, and especially during the hours of darkness.

I have talked seven miles, during daylight hours, and in rough terrain with a mobile CB. I had a fiberglass antenna on my vehicle, which is my preference of CB antennas.

If and when you get a CB, do not forget about maintenace and upkeep with the radio, and if you purchase an antenna, that is tunable - regularily check it. If you do not have the equipement, then please have someone do it for you; cause you do not want the antenna to damage or "Fry" the internal parts of your CB, which could quite posssibly happen....everytime you key up the microphone.

FF - Medic !!!

 

[ff-medic]

Just looking at the CB radios at Home - at Uniden and there are a couple of units that are marked down from retail. This radio(SKU: PC68LTW) is selling for $89.99 down from $149.99, so that's a big savings, and orders over $50 qualify for free ground shipping. I'm liking that one...do believe it's going into my shopping cart!

Russell

How about a brand new Uniden for $39.00

Bearcat Compact CB Radio - CB Radios at Uniden

This model looks promising = http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Home___Office-Communications-PRO538W.htm


FF - Medic !!!

 

[ff-medic]

Any 40 channel CB will do the trick.

But I beg the differ. Not all two way radios, to include CB's, are created, made and manufactured the same. Some two way radios.... out do others in relability, durability and ease of use. One brand may last you a year, and another brand may last you five or ten years. One brand may have particular maintanace issues, while another brand may not.

Some brands of goods, for example CB"s ; out perform and out last their competitors. Some are known for their reliability and lasting use.

Vehicle warranty, maintenace, reliability and lasting use, for example. Nissan trucks trump Ford and Chevy trucks in my opinion, and KIA cars trump Mercedes, Buick and Mercury. Toyota trucks trump Dodge by a longrun. My opinion only, even though there may be disagreements. Sometimes, purchasing a vehicle, or other consumer good...and paying just a tad bit more than the competitor to save money, will cost you in the long run with repair, maintenance, inconvenience, downtime, and loss of use. Sometimes, the cheaper one ( Kia vehicles for example ) has proven itself and is the largest purchased over it competitors.

Two way comms. I like Vertex, seconded by Kenwood. It's just me..But I consider Motorola radios almost.....almost dead last.

Handguns = H&K is tops, Sig Sauer second. ( Notice these are both German manufacturers ). Not that I do not enjoy or like other models...But the kings, in my opinion are H&K and Sig-Sauer.

Some brands perform much better than others, Not always does the more expensive item perform better than the cheaper one, and I mean this as a consumer. More expensive.... sometimes does win as far as reliability and durability....BUT not always.

As a consumer in general. This includes - electronics, cars, appliances..ect..ect. Not always does the most expensive item take the lead and win.

Sorry to get a little off of topic, but to prove my point, on your comment "Any CB will do the trick", I belive is false and misleading ; and hope you do not think like that with consumer goods in General.

FF - Medic !!!

 

[Ensnared]

Concur, Antenna Is Very Important

DONT FORGET!!! the rule of thumb goes, if you have $100 to spend on a CB. buy a $20 radio and an $80 antenna! I have had very good luck with the Wilson 1000. good luck!

At present, I am using my trusty K40 antenna paired with my Cobra 25. These two components have surely weathered the storm, quite literally.

I once owned a Wilson 1000, but did not like the stinger because it kept bending after hitting low objects. Wilson makes great antennas.

I would certainly recommend having a professional install your radio provided you: a) are new to CB installation; and/or b) can locate an honest CB shop near you. Not all CB shops are honest.

 

[roamer2u]

ch 17 and 18 are used in norther califoria 19 every where else ch. 9 is for emergency or local information ....