CB radio

Craneman, you should know that there are much better models out there to start with. And honestly Wal Mart isn't where you should look. Go to any truckstop and look them over. You can get a good starter model ie Cobra 29 or Uniden 66 or 76 model. They may cost up to $90 or so for the standard model but they are worth it. Also , you don't need one right away for a few reasons. Reason one is simply that as a new driver this is one distraction that you won't need. Reason two is that almost no one uses them much anymore except to ##### about things.
Quite honestly I would spend my money as a new driver on a good truck specific GPS......... and utilize the space set aside for the CB for a really good sound system with satelite radio............ These will be more helpful than any CB you can get.
Now if you want to go big with the radio...............Ranger, Texas Star, Galaxy, Connex,.............. these are some you need to look for. Also , if you get any of these , get a good cb man to install, and set up for you!!
Hope this helped!

 

I disagree that CB's are useless.
One time, I had a trailer tire start smoking on me awhile back.
Another driver hailed me on the CB so I was able to pull off, get it cooled down, and then get it fixed at a truckstop.
Had I had my CB off, I could have had a trailer fire before I knew what was going on back there.

Another time, I was northbound on I-71 and state police closed the highway because of an accident and routed all the traffic to local roads. I had a CB and was able to get some local info from another driver. 20 minutes later, I was around the accident and rolling northbound again. My buddy didn't have a CB and ended up getting lost and spent an hour getting back on the highway.

Some customers (especially grocery warehouses) use the CB to give you a door, let you know when you're empty/loaded, etc. Can save alot of time vs having someone come knock on your sleeper (which may or may not happen).

Maybe you've got the hammer down cause you want to get home, late for a appointment, etc...CB can still be used to find those bears.

CB's aren't what they once were in the late 70's when EVERYONE had them, but they are still a useful tool and a worthwhile investment. Don't leave home without one!

 

x2, a CB can be a very usefull tool, I also have one in my personal vehicle when I'm traveling. I esp like the CB for updated road conditions, particuarlly road closures, it gets me off the next exit instead of sitting on the interstate for hours. I also agree that Walmat and RadioShack aren't the best places to buy a CB, find a truck stop that repairs CB radios and that's the place to buy one! I know in Breezewood, PA, there's a CB radio shop and that's where I got my units and antennas. GL.

 

I disagree on the useless to. I use my every day to help others and it is a useful tool in a lot of cities and you can write it off on your taxes. Cobras are my choice but I'd buy a25. A 29 has weather alert in it which Ok if you are withing recieving distance of a weather station. Not many in NV, WY or S-ND.

 

Ok, seems I need to put an addendum to my post. So they aren't totally useless, however a year and a month ago I was northbound on I75 in Ohio and had just gotten back on the highway just south of the scale. I went about a mile before I realized that I had nothing but white smoke barreling out behind me. I hollered on the radio for the truck that was close enough behind me that I couldn't see him, and he had no radio on. So that goes both ways.
I agree there are some useful spots, but one I disagree with is the grocery warehouse thing. I have been to too many to count, and always give them my cell # and tell them my CB is broke. This allows me to get uninterrupted sleep while I wait. If I have to constantly listen for my name, or truck name or number while I wait I get no sleep, especially if there are several trucks there!
As for the other reasons, like routing around an accident, then yes, I would also give that a go ahead. For truck stop backing.......... please go to that post on here. Most people who would help you on the CB either are no good at giving direction to you or they will only hinder you. Very few ppl can give backing advice over the radio. Now if you are asking on the radio "will someone come help me back in"........ then you will probably get someone decent, among the more likely laughter, but don't pay attn to the laughter..........one day you may be the one laughing, we've all been through it and made it fine.

 

We get along fine without them but the boys up north want them for show alerts. For many years the company said no because they didn't want drivers messing with the wiring in the truck. So they agreed as long as the shop install your radio. Plus you had to know if that truck went away you could get your radio but again the shop would have to install it in another truck.

When I was OTR I ran one but had to shut it off when I got to any city because of all the crap that was going on. But there's nothing better when you're running late at night and you run with another truck and you just jaw away to stay alert. As far as anyone telling me there's something wrong with my truck, it's never happened to me because I use those things called mirrors plus I stop ever so often to check the truck over. I guess I'm lucky to catch things before they become a big problem. It's not some magic, it's just a company that stands behind it's drivers on any safety items.

 

Cobra 29,very rugged and less than $100 at truckstops.I think the 29 Ltd. is the one with weather alert.
Stay away from Wal Mart.

 

You can see the back of your trailer in your mirrors?