Get some short-range trail communications cheap
Author profile: Bill (Admin)
Bill has been a Jeep freak since 1995 and has since owned and modified three Jeeps, all YJ's. He lives in East Tennessee. Although his wife calls him a cheapskate, Bill prefers to be thought of as "budget-minded".
Years ago when I attended my first Jeep trail run, I quickly realized I was at a disadvantage. It wasn't that I needed a bigger lift, beefier tires or a winch. I was one of the only ones without a CB. Everyone else seemed to chat away and know where we were going and all I could do is follow and communicate during stops. When I first began looking for a CB, my first concern was being able to remove it easily. Hey, soft top Jeeps are easy to break into. If it's not hidden, locked or removed entirely, it's likely to be stolen someday. Secondly, as a gadget geek I wanted all the latest bells and whistles. I wanted a PA speaker, weather channel, auto-scan, etc. I ended up buying the Cobra 75WX, a nifty quick-disconnect cb system where the microphone actually housed most of the cb. It had all the bells and whistles and mounted nicely in my YJ. When you wanted to park somewhere, simply unscrew the connector and the whole unit fit easily into the center console or your backpack. After a few trips, however, I realized my dusty dirty open-top Jeep was taking a toll on this cool-looking CB. It seemed a shame for this high-tech device to get all beat up and scratched in my rough and tumble Jeep. So I gave it to someone who would take better care of it and started looking for a replacement.
The Cobra 75WX - around $75
The replacement, which is still to this day in my Jeep and used on almost every trail run, was the cheapest CB I could find on eBay - a Realistic (Radio Shack) TRC-477. I think I paid $9 for it, plus shipping. Now I know what you're thinking...you get what you pay for. But the truth is, the more important component of a short-range cb system is the antenna and wiring. The CB part is important but a $9 CB works just fine for trail duties. If it gets dirty and stops working some day...it was only $9. If it's stolen...it only cost me $9. But guess what? I've had it installed for about 3 years now, roasting in the Arizona sun, getting dusty, dirty and it still works as well as it did the day I installed it.
How does it perform? Very well. Look, you're not going to be chatting with good buddy truckers 10 miles away but just about any CB will work well for trail duties. You only need to communicate 100 feet in both directions, not much of a challenge for the common CB.
The Realistic (Radio Shack) TRC-477 - $9 used
For an antenna, Walmart sells some but I think a truck stop like Pilot or Loves is the best bet. I'm using a 4 foot Firestick that cost me $10, mounted on the spare tire bump-stop. Skip the super-flexy spring attachment. The Firestick is fiberglass and bends enough without it. I also purchased the Firestick wiring kit for another $15.
Once installed you really should tune it using an SWR meter. CB shops can do this for you but since it's hard to find CB shops anymore, consider buying your own SWR meter at Radio Shack for $10. Instructions for tuning are with the meter. I have one I could bring to a trail run if someone would like to borrow it. It's easy to use and only take a few minutes.
So why install a CB? Trail communications. It's amazing how much I use mine. I can radio ahead to the trip leader that someone behind me got stuck or is having some trouble. I can radio behind to the tailgunner (the last Jeep) to turn left up ahead. I can even give someone advice as they're going over an obstacle. And perhaps one of the most important reasons is for someone to request a bathroom stop.
Installing a CB in your Jeep doesn't have to cost much and will add greatly to your enjoyment when trail running with other people. I highly recommend this modification.
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Re: A Cheap CB is Invaluable on the Trail
