About to stick a CB in my vehicles...

Not really needed; a single antenna dead middle of the top of the vehicle will work just as good and won't be as much of a PITA to tune.

 

The meter is small. I like to know if I have, for example, 1.4:1. With the little meters in most radios, it could be off several digits and it might me closer to 1.8:1 and you wouldn't be able to tell. Like I said, check it against a good meter, one you know is right, and then you can use it (the radio meter) as a reference.

The meters work but it is not that uncommon for them to quit working. IMO they are not that high of quality.

I think I can tell a difference between a radio with a below 1.5:1 versus one just under 2.1:1. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but I like my stuff as good as it can be, and I like my SWR at 1.5:1 or below. So I use a good meter to check my SWR.

I can't wrap my head around not wanting to get out as far as I possibly can. Doesn't matter if I'm running an amp or barefoot, I want the equipment performing as well as possible. For the record, I've never "barbecued" a radio, and I've run some good sized amps, both tube and transistor. Probably because I always check my SWR with a good quality meter!

 

IIRC I believe you need the antennas at least 9 ft apart to be able to tune them.

Also if the whip itself is next to any metal, it may cause high SWR issues.

Mobile antennas as a rule prefer metal to be under them not to the side and certainly not above. There are exceptions to the rule though, such as if you can keep most of the antenna away from the metal. That's probably how cop cars run those big whips on the sides of the car, because more of the antenna is above the car's metal. Smaller antennas like the 5 foot Wilsons you mentioned might have more of the antenna next the metal, unless you can mount them up away.

Also the higher up you mount the antenna, the better it can receive, and transmit. Just sayin'.

 

Put that sucker in the middle top of your headache rack and call it good! Just tune it !!

 

either way get your self a good ground plane .either a floating ground plane with the wilson or a permanent install to the truck .i run a browning slap in the middle of my roof .drilled a hole to mount gimble and antenna .my ground is my truck now .not a floating ground plane .i had to also ground my cab to my frame a few different places .my swr is 1.2 .was 1.8with wilson 5000 magnetic ,floating ground plane.just make sure your antenna and radio are matched up .it will increase your send and recieve also .and keep from frying your radio too.

 

ground is a key function .good deal .