CB radios ?

[Jupiter]

This is our first year with the MH and we plan to "practice up" for some cross country travel upon retirement next year! So, I'm wondering... Do RV'ers use CB radios when traveling? If so, can you describe why you may find them useful?

Appreciate your thoughts!

Cheers,
Joopy

[LVJ58]

We have one but rarely use it, however, we do monitor the truckers channel as good source of information on traffic and/or road conditions. Ours also has the NOAA weather channel a good source for adverse weather alerts.

[Grumpytrkr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jupiter This is our first year with the MH and we plan to "practice up" for some cross country travel upon retirement next year! So, I'm wondering... Do RV'ers use CB radios when traveling? If so, can you describe why you may find them useful? Appreciate your thoughts! Cheers,Joopy

I use a Cobra with the built in weather band. Keeps us updated of traffic slow downs, and if an accident, which lane to be in.

Good Luck on your travels.

[Arch Hoagland]

A few use them but the majority do not use them.

[BigV]

I typically only turn it on when out away from metro areas. Also kick it on if I see a group of goldwings.

I like having it if I'm traveling with someone else, other than that it stays off.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I have one and like to turn in on in a traffic jam to see what is happening. The weather station is very very handy, but you need to know which county you are in to be of any use. We were in tornado area in a bad storm, but could not tell where storm was since we did not know which county we were in.
If we travel with other RV'ers, we switch to the family radio's.
If I do turn on my CB, I monitor channel 13 I understand is the RV'ers channel.
In short, I like to have the CB, but it is of little use.

[mudpuppy]

Like the others I listen to CH 19 when I see a traffic backup to figure out what to do. Other than that I am on the "HAM" bands.

[njs42]

Put one in "only" because I could not stand to have the antenna wire hanging there and not hooked up (it's just me) -----weather and occassional listen--and if I traveled in tandem ever it would be handier than cell phones to keep in touch. I installed the kind that has the receiving unit hidden and the all the controls on the microphone. Not terribly expensive and not obtrusive on my dash.

[GaryKD]

Hi Jupiter,
The value I find is that it breaks up the monotony of the day's drive. I have a single ear headset I wear. The wife need not hear what is being said. I talk every once and a while. Mostly just listen.

[wa8yxm]

I actually have 3 in the cockpit, One Cobra, decent antenna, on 19, it has been known to alert me to the odd traffic incident, and otherwise improve the drive.

One (an older Radio Shack, Realistic, on a very poor antenna which is actually in the basement) is on 13.. if you happen to be looking at me and call I might hear you.

The 3rd is a Midland walkie-talkie and is tuned to channel OFF! (That is simply where I store it, behind the realistic)

Years ago I was driving my van (not the motor home, at least not for a couple of decades) and a rain was freezing.. The radio (Chan 19) told me of a truck either jacknifed or on it's side up ahead.. I started to slow.. reached the "Safe stopping" speed just as I came up on a car, fully totaled, in each ditch. 1/2 of a 4 car crack up (The other half made it to the next exit and was waiting at the truck stop)

Piled everybody inside my van out of the weather till the nice deputy arrived, set up a table for him to do his interviews. Nice and warm and out of the freezing rain. He was happy, I was happy, the folks with the deceased cars.. Not so happy, but grateful I'm sure. ended up taking them home.

[Jupiter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jupiter This is our first year with the MH and we plan to "practice up" for some cross country travel upon retirement next year! So, I'm wondering... Do RV'ers use CB radios when traveling? If so, can you describe why you may find them useful? Appreciate your thoughts! Cheers, Joopy

Thanks to all for your thoughts. Sounds like weather and traffic alerts make it a worthwhile "should have".

Joopy

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jupiter This is our first year with the MH and we plan to "practice up" for some cross country travel upon retirement next year! So, I'm wondering... Do RV'ers use CB radios when traveling? If so, can you describe why you may find them useful? Appreciate your thoughts! Cheers, Joopy

In our 8 years and 72000 miles of travel, I have yet to hear a CB RVer.

[Roy W.]

I keep my CB on Channel 19, but squelched pretty good so that someone needs to be pretty close to break the squelch. If I see traffic start to back up I'll turn the squelch down to find out what's happening up the road. It's also good for getting directions if you have to take a detour off the interstate because of a bad wreck up the road.

[Chuck 1935]

always have my CB on to 19. There is no one on the RV channel if there really is one.
Very handy for highway information. It's a good way to stay informed.