Gotta Bite the Bullet

You have a switch that reads "S/RF. SWR, CAL". Switch that to CAL. You have a knob that turns left to right that reads "CALIBRATE". Key the mic and adjust that knob until the meter needle is on the red arror in the top right of meter. Move the switch to SWR. Key and hold the mic, that meter reading is what your SWR is. After that put the switch back to S/RF.

 

As a general rule on the CB band, "the bigger the antenna, the Better"

 

If you have the clearance for a pre tuned 5 1/2 ft. Francis antenna, get a good piece of 18' coax and by- pass the factory stuff. Even if you have to run it thru the passenger door jam. Mount the antenna in the center of the cab on the airline slide bar. Should increase you range 2-4 miles. You may have to use a vise grip mount to remove the antenna when loading. Lots of trouble, but at least you might be able to get out farther.

 

Madmax drives a tanker. He goes under loading racks with very low clearance and the racks can grab and pull the antenna out of it's mount.

Max you could try a 3' antenna on the bar he mentioned, the one behind the cab above your window. Often that will do better.

 

I would try to use the longest antenna possible, even if I had to use one of those quick disconnect mounts every time I loaded. Its going to be about the only way to get the range acceptable, imho.

 

The pic of your rig is too small to see your stacks, if in fact you have them. I'm running a Wilson Trucker 2K, with the short shaft. I too have to load under some short places. What some of our other drivers do, is mount the antenna on the driver's side mirror, and tilt it forward so it is no higher than the stacks. They of course use a steel whip type, with a spring. So when running down the road, it is blown to an upright position.