HELP

What kind of cb do you have?

I would use a K40 with magnet mount or Wilson 1000 with magnet mount on top of the truck, simple and basic.

Google or youtube them and see what one you think is the best.

 

IF you want a good antenna a K40 is a good start ...... I have found a good mag-mount works just fine but hard grounds will give you a edge ....
MOST CB radios will work just fine I ran a $39 midland for years untill the plastics went by-by,

 

i had a Ranger. as for the antenna i mounted off the bed tie down hooks. i had a carport so 4 1/2 ft was all the bigger i could go. My biggest challange was putting the Gereral Lee where it won't get in the way. My little uniden 510 fit well on the hump.... hope that helps

 

My "cheap" portable backup setup consists of a Realistic TRC-538 ? something or other- New in Box (about 30 years old) $7.50 off of Ebay +$9.00 shipping, and a new K30 K40 magnet mount antenna. $20 w/free shipping. My friend used his antenna analyzer to get the SWR down to 1.1. Hears about 18 miles out and talks about 4-6 average. Total investment less than $37.00. When my big truck was in for service, I used this setup on another tractor, and could actually use it all the time, if I had to, with no problem. The radio is about the size of 2 packs of cigarettes with only a volume, squelch, and channel selector. I had to cut approx. 3 inches off the whip on the K30. There is no reason not to have a CB in your vehicle at those prices. BTW, I found another radio identical for 12.00 plus 9.00 shipping. Now I have a pair. Both work as good as the day they were made. I put the antenna right in the middle of the roof on my '94 Ranger. Ran the coax out the back glass sliding door. Edit: on the backup tractor, a 2010 Freightliner daycab, I used the factory coax/antennas. Still good results.

 

If you want a great sounding, high quality setup, I'd go with a Galaxy radio, an Astatic 636L Microphone and a Stainless Steel Whip. I've done test using a SS whip and a Wilson 1000 roof mount and the whip is at least 2 S-units higher on receive and transmit than the Wilson BUT, if you can't use a full quarter wave whip then the Wilson antenna is a good second choice. If you'd like to run an amp, go with a Texas Star DX350. Big Audio, long range operation and not a strain on a stock alternator in your vehicle.
Make sure to keep SWR low. Run hot lead straight to battery and keep ground wire as short as possible. Even without the Amp you'll have a fine radio that will make ya proud to use each time ya turn it on!
BTW- When your using the extra channels, it's much better to use the portion UNDER the CB band than above it to keep from pissing off the ham operators trying to listen to the weak signal portion of their 10 meter band.
Most importantly, have fun on your new radio!

JDubya
Where I-95 & I-26 cross

 

Wow a galaxy in a ranger pickup, I'd get measurements and make a mock up of the galaxy or intended radio (cardboard) and tape/fasten it in my intended mounting location before I bought one.

Personally I have trouble swallowing that "the whip is at least 2 S-units higher on receive and transmit". The whip is definitely better but 6 dB difference. I would suspect another explanation for that much variation like a faulty wilson 1000.

I'm not a legal eagle type but I'm pretty sure that using one of those "import radios" on CB frequencies is actually illegal (they are not type certified) and transmitting on the other frequencies without a ham license or using an amp is also illegal.
You do as you want I just wanted to let you know if you didn't already.
I'll stop being a wet blanket now.

 

If you can run one, get a 102 whip. You can still get them thru radio shack p/n 21-903 for around $20. You'll also need the pot belly spring ($17) and a mount ($10-$15) and the coax (will depend on how much you want).

It'll be big but it'll give you ears like you've never had and you'll be able to talk 10 miles easy on a stock 4 watt CB of your choice on a good day. The antenna is what will make your set up it's best.

Now if a 9 ft tall antenna on your truck is too tall for you, then a Wilson 1000 roof mount would be good too. Not as good as the 102 whip but good. Height is might. If you don't want a roof mount, then consider a magnet mount Wilson 1000 on the roof. The roof mount involves putting a hole in your roof but it comes with the gaskets to keep the water out.

As for CB's, it depends on what you want in a radio...a small Cobra 19 with this 102 whip will do the trick. A Cobra 25/Uniden PC 68 would be even better. Do you want or need single sideband? Look to a side mic Cobra 148 GTL/Uniden Grant.

Below is my old S-10 with a 102 on the rear of the bed bulkhead. With a stock 4 watt CB I could do 10 miles on a good day and once I did 14 miles, both times on channel 19.

 

Big Tex, it would help if we knew what your budget is

 

89 Ford Ranger...OK. First I would pull the motor, and drop a 351 inside, then hook up 3- 200 amp alternators...

Then stick a toolbox in the back (if you don't already have one) and put a couple battery's in there for your battery bank...

Stick a 27" shaft Predator 10K on top of the toolbox...Or you can go with a 12" shaft Predator 10K mounted on the roof..

Then get a Cobra 29, and a 1x4 Davemade, and a 16 pill Davemade and put in behind the seat...(If there's not enough room, you can stick'um in the toolbox, just make sure it don't leak)

Get ya a set of Bird Meters, some LMR 400 coax, and get ready to drop the maul...

You'll need to do some RF Bonding too, so when your running your ground straps don't over look running a couple off the tail pipes...

Don't worry about what it's going to cost..."It's only money"...