Best CB Radios for Wrangler

[AmeriCanuck]

I’m thinking about installing a CB radio in my 2023 Wrangler. What is the most popular CB radio in the Wrangler community and why? Where is the best spot to mount a CB in a Wrangler? Thanks in advance.

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[Reinen]

CBs are antiques. Go with a GMRS or HAM radio. A handheld has the benefit of being able to leave the Jeep.

 

[jellis4148]

Second that. I did a bulletpoint mount on the passenger grab handle to hold my Baofeng. Battery lasts a very long time, and I can use it outside of the Jeep to talk when I'm spotting from a distance.

 

[Matanzas]

Get the handheld Cobra CB. It’s 100 bucks and fits in your middle console.

 

[Bryce]

Make sure that people in your area or that you'll be riding with are going to use CB. Lots of clubs have moved over to FRS/GMRS. Nobody runs a CB in my area anymore. I went with a Midland MXT275 GMRS

 

[jellis4148]

Guess you could always get both. Get a handheld CB, and GMRS. You'll have about $200 in both plus the mount. Then you're prepared for any zombie apocalypse.

 

[GATORB8]

Make sure that people in your area or that you'll be riding with are going to use CB. Lots of clubs have moved over to FRS/GMRS. Nobody runs a CB in my area anymore. I went with a Midland MXT275 GMRS

Depending on how far you want to be able to reach out, Midland has several solid options. On the micromobile 75s like the 275, the controls are on the handset and you can stash the headunit.

If you are just looking for group trail comms, the Midland GXT 1000 is an inexpensive set, gets you 5 watts and a fixed antenna on the handheld. The MXT275 is 15 Watts, and the 575 is 50.

Antenna helps with range, and is a big limitation on the handhelds.

You will get no where near the advertised range in the majority of locations.

 

[Jeepeto]

Cobra 75 is the go to for Jeep CB, but as others have stated, CB is quickly being replaced with FRS/GMRS. So much so that I didn’t bother installing my Cobra in Jeepeto III, if your club insists on using CB shoot me a PM I’ll ship you mine and a fire stick antenna for almost nothing.

 

[BobW]

I took the advice of an earlier post and got a Garmin inReach Mini.
(Plus Motorola T600 for local talk).

 

[Eyeball]

I took the advice of an earlier post and got a Garmin inReach Mini.
(Plus Motorola T600 for local talk).

If the goal is summoning help out of cell service, the Garmin inReach Mini is a solid choice. CB due to low wattage and line of sight limitations is not a good choice. Handheld CB are the worst choice and seem to have the range of two tin cans and a string.

If the goal is trail communications where every one is fairly close, CB will work fine but is rapidly being replaced by high wattage mobile and handheld GMRS radios.

As others have posted before installing a CB check with those you plan to wheel with and see what they use for communication.

 

[SparkleTooth]

Like others have said GMRS is where its at. There are several good offerings from Midland, however, I prefer Rugged Radios but thats just me.
I use a Rugged Radios GMR45, and I use a Rugged Radios handheld for spotters.

 

[five9dak]

https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-480Mhz-1800mAh/dp/B074XPB313/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=baofeng+uv-5r&qid=1684247799&sprefix=baofeng,aps,86&sr=8-3&th=1

Will do FRS, GMRS and HAM for $19. Get a programming cable and CHIRP to program. Pass them out to your friends with the controls locked.

/ducks

 

[LARSONEM]

I’ve got a Midland 1001Z. I think they discontinued it for a newer model with a weather channel. CB works great with our small group and it’s handy even on the road as we always have two vehicles; me with the truck and camper and my wife following with the Jeep. I have it mounted with Velcro so no holes are drilled in the center console. And I made my own antenna bracket to use a 3 foot fiberglass antenna because I wanted it to go through a 7 foot garage door. Just couldn’t find a hood antenna solution that worked with the Mopar reinforced tire carrier. After several cardboard templates, I had the neighbor cut some aluminum and the local welding shop put it together for me.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I figured I might need a radio here and there and bought a couple BTECH GMRS-PRO handhelds. I've used them recently when spotting/driving.

 

[Glitch]

Just be aware the HAM and GMRS require FCC licensing.

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