I bought the setup for my Jeep from here: http://www.rightchannelradios.com/ CB's are indispensable when offroading with a group of vehicles ...
Not as much as we used to. Since everyone raised their speed limits, there's not much use for it now as there was. I rarely use mine, almost never unless I see someone I know. "Good Buddy" went out of style 30 years ago. A "good buddy" refers to someone who likes the same sex.
I'm the same way. Unless I'm running with someone I know, mine is turned down low. Of course with my setup, Galaxy DX959 with a old Gray 100 amp and a Francis antenna, I can talk and hear 5-10 miles easy. I use mine more now at shippers and receivers who require you to have one. I talk more on the cell phone than the radio anymore. I do have one in the motor home and have a portable setup I use in the pickup when I'm going out of state just to keep up with things. I always had one in my 4WD pickup when we went off roading, too. I never got stuck, but had to pull a few Chevys out!
I have a Superstar 3300 with out a amp on a francis antenna and my longest shot was from tucson,az. to portland,or. dont use it much unless im in a BIG hurry to get somewhere.
That's called "skip" and you don't need to boost power to have it happen, but you do have to have exactly the right atmosheric conditions for it to happen. My longest skip was from the 4 corners area (Colo.N.Mex, Ariz. Utah) to a CB shop in Wheeling W.Virginia. Barefoot, no booster. I've alos listened to the local gravel haulers down here(south louisiana) from just below the Canadian border in Montana on a -35* January morning.
What has been mentioned by a lot of responses are pretty much the real deal. I think "ford84stepside" gave the best advice; go to a place where truckers buy CB's and buy radio/transciever and antenna. That's pretty much all you need. As, stated b4, getting the antenna tuned/SWR for the CB 11 meter band is the most important. As far as, the PA is concerned - I wud recommend you check w/ ur states DOT regulations on operating a PA on a mobile operation. As far as truckers and CB's go; I still here them quite active in my region of the country " In a major metro area". I do believe they don't have the numbers of 60's - 80's. That's my opinion and experience as an active radio amatuer, fixed station and mobile for more than 25yrs.
