Anybody use CB Radios anymore?

[A2SuperCrew]

I remember when I was a kid my Dad always had a CB Radio in the car for long trips.  (Back in the '70's)  It helped us avoid construction, traffic jams, and other road problems.   I've not heard much about them in years.  Does anyone use them anymore?  Or are they just a trucker thing now?

I was considering adding one to my truck for long trips, but then wondered if they were still of value these days.........

[Recumbentman]

Man does that bring back memories  :yikes:  But with cell phones, GPS and blue-tooth. I think they are becoming a dinosaur   kinda like rotary phones or hand crack windows

[spicyville1]

Being in the trucking business for 26 years, CB's were used on a daily basis for the reasons you stated above. There are not many radio operators mobile other than truckers. You still have your HAM operators that may have a mobile system and most use them as assistance with storm trackers. Unless you just want to hear all the CB "trash" out there I would not even bother installing one. My Cobra 29 is still sitting in the closet since I got out of the truck in 1996.

[flyfisherman]

I still keep a small hand held (portable) unit in the truck that's ready for use in a couple of locations, and those are on water. Back in the 70's, I also had one for highway driving use. Considered it an emergency necessity, but now the cel phone has taken over that duty. Like I say, to contact the "other side" of a lake and boaters in the area, CB's are still used.



Fly

[badabing67]

the guys in my four wheel drive club still use cbs, when we go trail rideing.but that's about it to and from the trails and on the trail

[thefryingScotsman]

I bought a hand held cb thinking I could maybe make a few friends on the air. What a huge mistake that was-nothing but foul mouthed garbage. No one would answer a call, no one would talk-what a waste of money!

[butterflyfish]

I was just wondering if they were still in use, also.  We too, always traveled with a a CB radio when I was a kid (70's-80's).  I remember the chatter lulling me to sleep in the back seat of the car...

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

I have a hand held CB in the truck and never use it.

[PM3579]

There is a lot of trash talk on the cb's now days,but the wife and I each have one hard wiredin each of our trucks.We do alot of highway driving and many times it has allowed us to bypass traffic jams, andhighway closures.We dont talk alot on them but you can meet some interesting people on the radio.Back in the 80's we were on our way to St.Louise mo. at 2am and had a trucker not told us about a full exhaust from a semi in the middle of the road we would have hit it and might not have survied in our vw rabbit.They do have some plus's

[sacrawf]

In the 70's and 80's I had a CB in every car, truck, tractor, and combine on the farm, along with a base station in the farmhouse.  We used them to call for assistance for parts, supplies, assistance with livestock, or stuck vehicles.  I don't miss the endless and mindless chatter, static and erratic reception.  Thank goodness for cell phones.

[AZsix]

Being in the trucking business for 26 years, CB's were used on a daily basis for the reasons you stated above. There are not many radio operators mobile other than truckers. You still have your HAM operators that may have a mobile system and most use them as assistance with storm trackers. Unless you just want to hear all the CB "trash" out there I would not even bother installing one. My Cobra 29 is still sitting in the closet since I got out of the truck in 1996.

Being a former over the road trucker myself I still have one and considered putting it in the tv and may still do that. We have several walkie talkies that my kids and wife use to help me back up in tight spots if need be. As someone else said, with cell phones and such they aren't really a necessity for anyone but truckers anymore. They could help in avoiding traffic delays and for helping keep you awake at night on a long trip though.

[Old Goat]

I have a hand held CB in the truck and never use it.

I still carry a hand held Cobra CB in my pickup TV that I have'nt used in years..It does'nt take up any space and is there if I should ever need it....

[A2SuperCrew]

Well it sounds like my suspicions were on track.  CB's are a thing of the past.

Back in 1978 we were driving to Florida, when suddenly we hear, "Breaker Gold Ford Wagon, you got your ears on?".  A trucker radioed to warn us about the smoke coming from under our car.  Turns out the transmission seal was leaking.  Dad was able to pull off in the next town and get it fixed.  Had we kept going, we would likely have been stranded somewhere in the mountains!  We were very thankful for the radio, AND that trucker!  

Ah yes, the days of the Ford LTD station wagon.  No wood paneling on this one though!

[Old Starcraft]

I remember when I was a kid my Dad always had a CB Radio in the car for long trips. (Back in the '70's) It helped us avoid construction, traffic jams, and other road problems. I've not heard much about them in years. Does anyone use them anymore? Or are they just a trucker thing now?
 
I was considering adding one to my truck for long trips, but then wondered if they were still of value these days.........

One of my uncles always had one in his company car since he traveled allot in the 70's and 80's. I don't think many cadillac owners had CBs. We used them allot in the 70's. Mainly for long family trips with multiple cars so we wouldn't get seperated.
 
I thought about one, but I prefer my scanner with trunk tracking. When ever we travel I always program it for HP in the different areas / states we travel to avoid accidents, speed traps, e.t.c.. I do have it programed to pick-up regualr CB channels, but don't listen often since it is mainly a bunch of dribble I wouldn't want my 11 YO son to hear.
 
I do enjoy hearing them as a kid, but as an adult the language is a bit too fowl for my taste.

[haroldPE]

2 years ago, I bought an old hi-gain CB on ebay, and picked a new K-40 antennae on a magnetic base.

I use it especially for our annual 700 mile trip to canada on the 401, which is notorious for huge backups from highway incidents (accidents).

It has saved us from sitting in backups several times per trip.  However, I also use an earbud, since the truckers language is deplorable.  Otherwise, you can not turn it on with kids in the vehicle.