Need Help Deciding on New CB Model

[Jeepdog]

I will be changing out the CB in my Jeep and am looking for some advice regarding model and upgrades. I need to purchase a CB that will take the bumps/bruises of trail riding. The CB will be mounted in an overhead console but it will still need to stand up to shakes, bumps, and jolts without loosening the electronic boards inside. The CB shop recommended the Cobra 29WXNWST as I also require the weather channels and would like to be able to see the CB at night, hence the Nightwatch option from Cobra.

I am a little skeptical of the Cobra since--first, that's the brand they sell and I figure they'll steer me towards that, and second, I am not seeing too much talk about Cobra CB's on the forum. I have seen some reviews on the internet that states this is a good radio but wanted other opinions. Are all the dials on this Cobra useful or just there to look good (for example, the RF Gain and Dynamike buttons, etc)? Will some of these dials hardly ever get touched, like the SWF dial? I do want the instant CH 19 button on any CB I purchase.

However, I will state that for the actual CB, I don't require "too much" CB (just a reliable model for the best money) and would like for the price to be somewhere between $100-$125 --upgrades additional $$, of course.

I also have a hard time hearing some folks on the trail that do not have properly tuned CB's or cheaper CB's and would like to not only peak and tune my CB and add playback, but would also like to add whatever upgrade I can to help me "bring in" the weaker signals. Are there any upgrades that I should stay away from that would be a rip-off? (I know echo is a no-no; don't want it) Will I need an external speaker for playback or will I hear it from the radio itself?

One more thing, I will be using this CB from time-to-time to talk with truckers when I see a traffic jam and want more info. Any help from you fine folks to steer me in the right direction would be appreciated!! I know you might not use your CB to ride trails but hopefully, you will have some experience on what breaks and what doesn't break from vibrations. Thank you for your help.

SJ

[steved]

I have a Cobra 29 that is dated 1992...I bought it used, it's been in three trucks (3/4 ton pickups) I owned...I never had trouble with it, they are very durable. I would not hesistate to buy a Cobra 29 for an offroad rig as mine did over 2 years in my offroad truck.

steved