Best Coax???

There is no one "best" coax. There are several factors that you need to balance to get what you need. For instance, in a mobile environment, it would be difficult to run the 6" nitrogen charged hardline that broadcasters use.

For mobile use, LMR-240 Ultraflex by Times Microwave is highly recommended.

 

Beldon with Amphenol connectors is all I use no complaints, yet...

I'm running that same radio in my pickup it drives a X Force straight 4 pill into a 102" whip..

Send a PM to member Rolling Radios he'll get you straight.

 

If there were only one coax that was right for every need, there'd only be one on the market. I use a variety of coax types on my vehicles, but I do things up past 1 GHz in frequency. For typical HF (below 30 MHz) mobile-in-motion use, I concur with MsJamie's choice for any typical civilian land vehicle I can think of.
Here's a quick guide to help compare coax types, and why you're likely to get at least as many different answers from the forum as you see on this linked table:

thewireman.com/coaxdatacurrent2.pdf

And keep in mind those are only the products that that vendor sources. Other places may re-badge some of the same stuff, or use completely different products from countries that weren't even on the map five years ago.
73,
Handlebar

 

LMR400 is a lot thicker (RG8 size), and a real pain in the ### to route through a vehicle.

 

I agree with the LMR-240UF if you want to go this route. The UF stands for "ultra flex". Or you could go with just plain LMR-240 but it's working with a stiff copper center wire.

LMR-400, while some of the best stuff out there, is not really for mobile installs. As mentioned it's a PITA to snake thru a vehicle.

 

How much better is the LMR 240 than the RG 8 ? i'm rewiring my car and want to run coax for my CB when i do. i have decent coax i can use but i will be running coax along with wires and going into the engine area on it's way to rear fender (it's a bug).... Should i bother to get better stuff or go with what i have ? Thx

 

I assume you mean RG8X. Loss per 100 feet at 30 MHz: LMR240: 1.3 dB; RG8X: 2.0 dB.

 

Yes that is what i think i have, as for the loss comparison, i don't have a clue about what that means in a 8ft length. If it were you, would you buy the LMR 240, or use what is already lying around ?