CBs

[pjtaxi]

Just bought our new to us motorhome this fall. Have taken a few short trips and everything seems good. My question is the former owner had a cb installed but it doesn't work, do people on the road still use cbs and is it worth fixing it? Thanks for any info. Patrick

[azloafer]

I was interested in a CB myself, but after talking to other campers the general consensus was that they were OK if you want to listen to a lot of swearing and nonsense. It seems that the reasons for me installing one evaporated when I talked to others.

Now I know someone will dispute this reasoning, but I would suggest you talk to others and do a lot of forum searches to make up your mind. That's what I did.

Happy travels, Joe

[Logthumper]

Wouldn't be without one. Better than handhelds when wife helps me to get into tight backins. In heave traffic, its nice to know which lane to get into. When in a traffic jam, can be helpful if to find another route or just what to do.

[bdpreece]

I use mine mostly to listen when out on the freeway. As you get closer to large towns the chatter increases with mostly foul language and I turn it off.

[1ciderdog]

We have had CB's in radios for years but most often turned off. Our CB does have weather channels which are ocassionally useful. Sometimes when traffic is at a dead stop you can hear the reason for the back up (accident or road construction) and perhaps figure a way to get around the problem. Once in the snow and waiting for them to lift chain requirements on I-5 in Northern CA we monitored the CB and truckers told us when the chain requirement was lifted - not CALTRANS. There are some benefits to having the CB - much of the trucker (nasty) talk has apparently moved to cell phones.

[wa8yxm]

I use one on the freeway.. Most truck stops have an earpiece that slips over the ear and plugs into the external speaker jack on teh CB.. That way the Darling wife does not have to listen to the somewhat raw language that some truckers use...

When you see a bunch of brake lights ahead.. Chan-19 usually knows what's happening, at least on an expressway/freeway.

[BZam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjtaxi Just bought our new to us motorhome this fall. Have taken a few short trips and everything seems good. My question is the former owner had a cb installed but it doesn't work, do people on the road still use cbs and is it worth fixing it? Thanks for any info. Patrick

Things have changed from the past days when most of us used CBs but I still find mine most useful in situations where there is a traffic tie up and I can find out the cause and if I need to get off or wait it out. Also its useful in asking oncoming about weather, like where will I hit rain or when I will drive out.

Another use has been for light check. My wife is disabled and cannot really assist in full light check. After I make a first turn when leaving I stop and put on flashers and go out and check the hitch and see that I have lights on toad. Then sometimes going down the road when I have a friendly trucker or another RV, I ask them to check my lights as I put on turn signals and so braking. I have always found people are very courteous and helpful in doing this check.

But for me another reason was with toad back there basically out of sight I could be warned if I had a flat and it was destructing. But since I have Pressure Pro and would know if I had a blowout or low tire, I only turn on my CB when needed and don't run it all the time.

Bob

[Ed S]

I too would not run without out my cb. I have it on all the time and find that the truckers have cut way back on using cb's except around large cities where some are asking for proper lanes or direction and some do chatter a bit. Mine is on like others said before, if a trucker sees something wrong with my rig or toad....I want to know. I have found the cb to be very useful when there is a back up for any reason, 1) I know whats going on and where and 2) may find out a about a detour route to save time from a trucker. The way I see it, if I dont what to hear some of the things being said I can turn it off. My choice. I have a weather radio built in with mine. Sounds an alarm if nasty weather is approching. Nice to have while sleeping.

If you want a cb just to chat with another person I am sure you can do that also since I think the truckers have their radios on but not talking on them.

Good luck

[Ray,IN]

Usually it is not practical or cost effective to have an older radio repaired. You can purchase a reliable no-frills radio at any truck stop for less than $50, and it has a warranty. I have a $3 ear-bud (some states do not allow using two) for when DW doesn't want to listen to the radio.

[dons2346]

Things have changed. Not a lot of foul language today as a lot of truckers simply stop talking to the potty mouth guys. Had the radio on for a total of 12 hours one day and might have heard 20 cuss/potty words the whole time.

A CB is very useful for road conditions and to summon help. I don't fool with the "official rv" channel as no one listens anyway.

[JackHammr']

As a trucker I agree it's pretty useful ..

There isnt a lot of talk like it used ta be , most of the fowl mouths are jus an irritant and I turn it down a bit , get around the bigger cities or near truck stops and the fowl language kicks in , or someone is trying to get a peeing contest started with anyone who will reply ..

There is an "official rv" channel ??

[TXiceman]

I have one rolled up in a towel and under my back seat and a magnetic mount antenna. The radio has not been used in over 3 years and i have not missed it one bit.

Ken

[Ranger429]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackHammr' As a trucker I agree it's pretty useful .. There isnt a lot of talk like it used ta be , most of the fowl mouths are jus an irritant and I turn it down a bit , get around the bigger cities or near truck stops and the fowl language kicks in , or someone is trying to get a peeing contest started with anyone who will reply .. There is an "official rv" channel ??

As a truck driver myself the foul language usually comes up around the truck stops or in heavy traffic jams. Most truckers don't even turn the radio on anymore.

What channel is the official RV channel?

[W4RLR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger429 What channel is the official RV channel?

CB Channel 13.