CB Radio Channel for RVers

[Kro1957]

RV's use Ch 13 as Truckers use 19. Common knowledge. Among truckers many also know RV's use 13 and if they see something you need to know will go to 13 as the go to and let you know.

That is the way it was for many years but now seems like many RV'rs are not using CB's any longer although truckers still do.

We have our's on 13 just in case. Some CB's will allow you to monitor a secondary channel and if it does, 19 would be my next selection.

[Pirate]

I put on a firestick and have it tuned properly but still get horrible reception from the rear (antenna mounted up front on top of cap). I only turn it on now for traffic jams.

[LSC9901]

NGP antenna's are an OK alternative but their best use is on the water. The water acts as a ground plane. RV'ers use the NGP because generally we have either a rubber or fiberglass roof. Neither of which provide for a good outgoing signal. Curently I have just a 2 foot Firestick and am considering a 4 foot one with the hope that it will extend my signal a bit. We usually travel close together and for us it is just a way to BS for however long it takes to get from point A to point B. Not going to invest a ton of money to do that.

[paddykern]

I was surprised at the number of contacts I made on ham radio frequency 146.52mHz.
Both traffic jams on way to and from the eclipse in Kentucky.
While traveling from Michigan to Maine this fall.


It would seem that CB would be the best but many people are using FRS when multiple cars are traveling.

[ziaptrn]

I miss the 'old days' (boy, do I say that a lot? gosh...I'm getting old) of CB radio. For a time, CB radio was what I would compare to Facebook/Social Media today - met a lot of people there and made great friends.

We recently changed coaches, and I have re-worked the CB radio and antenna in the new rig to where it works very well. Now, if there were just other RVers to chat with! I'm considering putting "CB Channel 13" decals on the back just in case that might make a difference.

That being said - I have had similar experience to previous posters in that I'm a 'waver' and rarely get a return wave. I also get about a 40% response from flashing ICC lights for folks to pass/pull in, etc. Not sure why, but something just feels good about helping a fellow trucker/RV driver know it's safe to pull back in and that I'm watching. Also feels good when they signal me the same way if I'm the one passing, etc. Something about sharing and belonging, I think.

So - I'm all for reviving CB radio and on-the-road courtesy, and will continue to wave, flash, and monitor the CB just because that's who I am :-)

Just my .02 and (hopefully) no offense to anyone!

[smlranger]

Originally Posted by ziaptrn

I miss the 'old days' (boy, do I say that a lot? gosh...I'm getting old) of CB radio. For a time, CB radio was what I would compare to Facebook/Social Media today - met a lot of people there and made great friends.

We recently changed coaches, and I have re-worked the CB radio and antenna in the new rig to where it works very well. Now, if there were just other RVers to chat with! I'm considering putting "CB Channel 13" decals on the back just in case that might make a difference.

That being said - I have had similar experience to previous posters in that I'm a 'waver' and rarely get a return wave. I also get about a 40% response from flashing ICC lights for folks to pass/pull in, etc. Not sure why, but something just feels good about helping a fellow trucker/RV driver know it's safe to pull back in and that I'm watching. Also feels good when they signal me the same way if I'm the one passing, etc. Something about sharing and belonging, I think.

So - I'm all for reviving CB radio and on-the-road courtesy, and will continue to wave, flash, and monitor the CB just because that's who I am :-)

Just my .02 and (hopefully) no offense to anyone!

Like you I remember the days when you could actually use the CB radio to talk to folks miles away. We even had QSL cards with our call letters and name. I was KKK-0413. Layfayette radio and super Magnum antenna good for many miles over flat land.

Originally Posted by happycamperz

Great question. I usually leave mine turned down low on ch 19, lots of chatter, and I turn it up if I see traffic or need info about truck stops. I can’t remember the last time I changed the channel.

[Stiltner]

Professional drivers aren't what they used to be. For the most part they talk on side-band and have left CH 19. I agree with the wave! I always do, but rarely get a wave back.

[goingtoenjoy]

Kjk 0921 reading the mail . 10s and 8s to you .

[ThePowells]

KDB2773 Originally.. I can't remember. Ended up as Lawdoggie.

[LSC9901]

I'm far from "old" but my original license goes back to around 1964-65. KOA-4890 and yes it was social media for it's day. I went through the whole gamut from a ground plane antenna to a "beam" antenna with SSB and maybe even some channels that really didn't belong to the Citizen Band. My original radio was a Lafayette Comstat 25. It had 23 legal channels and 2 others that we should only listen on. Me ??? No I never talked on them. That wasn't legal.

I will wave but will not initiate it. I was a long time bike rider and other than the fact that we were both riding motorcycles I saw nothing in common. More often than not Harley riders would not wave to other brands. Again I have no problem waving to my fellow RV'ers but honestly I don't wave to every Honda CRV drivers just because we drive the same car.

[Kro1957]

Some where I have that license of mine around but have not seen it in a very long time!!!

Here's to CB's ! The light flash, The wave and good-ol country music!!

[grindstone01]

I monitor Channel 19 for road info, this has saved me from having many panic stops. I also flash my lights whenever a big rig passes which does two things, 1-let them know I am helping them, 2-let them know there is a real person back here and don't get mad I'm driving slow.
It used to be CB's were calling that a vehicle was on the shoulder as a heads up to get over to the next lane. I haven't heard that call in the last couple of years.

[Oldschool54]

Based on this thread look for me on 13 and I do wave doesn't matter if I get a wave back or not just like people and rvers

[More-Gas]

Somewhere on a RV forum I saw a guy who was selling oval decals that said
Channel 13 sorry I cant remember.