CB recommendations

[ttora4runner]

I'm looking for a CB for my 4runner. I've been told to stay away from the handheld type and to stick with the tradational type. This is the one I'm looking at right now:

Cobra 19 Ultra III Citizen Band Radio

Does anyone have pictures of a CB installed where the ash tray is at on the 3rd gen 4runners.

[Edit - Good Times - Thread title clarified from "CB?" to "CB recommendations"]

[ecchamberlin]

This is a uniden in a 01
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/ecchamberlin/P1010265.jpg

THis is the same radio in my Tacoma before I sold it. Just a better pic of it and the mounting and placement it exactly the same.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/ecchamberlin/P1010075.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

i have the cobra 75, its a great CB so far, had it almost a year. i love it. the only problem with it i have is its a bit bulky in my hand. other than that, its great, and the fact i can take it out and put it in another vehicle. i like it and would recommend it to someone else.

personal preference. i dont have alot of room in my dash for a cb, so this was a good choice.

[olharleyman]

COBRA 29ltd

[Chapman88SR5]

I have a midland forsale that i put in my truck but it never got used.

[Bob98SR5]

ttora,

more importantly, buy and tune (if its tuneable) a good antenna. personally speaking, i think that is the more important choice. it is my observation that the whip antennas like the magnetic mount wilsons transmit and receive the best. i myself have a fiberglass firestik which does an adequate job at close range.

[JWBehm]

Here is mine in the ash tray http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jwbehm/DSC01379.jpg

[ttora4runner]

Thanks for all the replies and pictures guys :thumbup:. I think right now I'm going to buy a set of hand held GMRS/FRS radio's and still be able to communicate with the CB guys.

I've been advise to stay away from them because they are a pain to us but until I can get everything fiqure out with my vehicle (I have some other plans) they will have to do. I will probable get more use out of them for hiking and camping anyways. Again, thanks guys.


Just call me "T". :D

[Seanz0rz]

as far as i know you cannot use the frs radios with a CB. at least i never have been able to.

i have found that the cb is far superior to the frs radios. both in range and in quality of reception.

[ttora4runner]

as far as i know you cannot use the frs radios with a CB. at least i never have been able to.

i have found that the cb is far superior to the frs radios. both in range and in quality of reception.


I've been told you could but maybe I'm mistaken

[Good Times]

nope diff freq so that can't happen.

[ttora4runner]

Again, thanks guys for pointing me in the right direction. I saw the uhf/vhf (whatever there called)and those things would be pain to use while wheeling.

This is what I'm currently looking at. I'll just have to give it the other one to someone in the group to help me communicate. I'm still unsure if I want a CB right now.

http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/midland/midland-gxt-850-vp4.aspx

[ttora4runner]

Well, I decided to go ahead and get a CB. These are two that I'm looking at (will they fit into where the ash tray is at?).

http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-C19DXIV-40-Channel-Mobile-Compact/dp/B00083KUVS/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200965703&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00024DIDK/sr=8-6/qid=1200965580/ref=pd_cp_e_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1200965580&sr=8-6&pf_rd_p=250314601&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00083KUVS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0TK6RS6ZMNCC89A4AASM


I'm still confused when it comes to want antenna to get and how to tune it properly. If you all have any other recommendations let me know

[paddlenbike]

Another one worth considering is the Cobra 18 Ultra II. It is the same size as the DIN slot and fits below an aftermarket stereo. It also has a forward-firing speaker.

http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/4Runner/mods/centerconsole.jpg

[ttora4runner]

Would this one fit where the ashtray (coin holder for some) is at?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4642484

[ttora4runner]

I exchanged the walmart special tonight for like this tonight but mine is a cobra 18wxst 2 from the local truck stop.


Another one worth considering is the Cobra 18 Ultra II. It is the same size as the DIN slot and fits below an aftermarket stereo. It also has a forward-firing speaker.

http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/4Runner/mods/centerconsole.jpg

[ttora4runner]

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/100_0152.jpg

Got it installed tonight with help from one the guys from the yuma4wheelers. The antenna connection in the back is a little too long so it doesn't sit flush. So it's about 1/2" out from my radio at the most. We ran the antenna cable up the A-pillar and cut the door seal a little bit to get the wire past.

Other than that I'm happy with it. Just got to make sure to turn it off since we wired directly to the battery.

[paddlenbike]

Use a 90-degree coax connector on the back of the radio and it will sit flush. Mine is not an Ultra II like I stated, but the same 18 WX ST II you bought.

[4x4mike]

I got my new stereo and CB yesterday. I installed it in the DIN slots. I have to hit the truck stop today for the 90 degree hookup and look into a different antenna. When I get outside I'll take a pic.

[ecchamberlin]

If you don't want to hit a truck stop for the 90, Radio Shack has them to.

[4LowLocked]

This information has been very useful. I do have one question however, what is the size of a standard DIN? Is it 7" x2"

[4LowLocked]

Has anyone tried the Uniden Pro538W? This has the front fire speaker, weather channels and PA switch.

Im curious as to what the dimensions are as I can't seem to find them on the Uniden site
http://www.uniden.com/products/productdetail.cfm?product=PRO538W


Edit - found the dimensions on a retailer site

Dimensions:
- 8 3/8" (L)
- 6 7/8" (W)
- 2" (H)
- Add approx 1" for knobs on front & 1/2" antenna connection on back

[paddlenbike]

This information has been very useful. I do have one question however, what is the size of a standard DIN? Is it 7" x2"


Not sure, but the dimensions for the Cobra 18 WX ST II are:
Product Dimensions: 7 x 1.9 x 6.5 inches ; 2.5 pounds

It couldn't fit the DIN slot any better...

[Seanz0rz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_7736

"Head units generally come in either single DIN (180 x 50 mm panel) or double DIN (180 x 100 mm panel) size. The depth is not standard."

that would be 7.08661 x 1.9685 inches. for all intents and purposes: 7" x 2"

the really bad thing is... i knew the iso number off the top of my head.

[scottiac]

Just some more random tidbits... I've gone through 3 CB units and at least that many antennas, trying to get one that works well for me. I've used the Midland handheld, the Cobra 18 mentioned above, and the Cobra 75 as well. I've used the 4' firestik on the T15 bumper, the el-cheapo mag mount on the roof, and now the definitely not cheap wilson on the roof.

The antenna by FAR has made the only significant difference. (I went through the other CB's thinking the firestik on the bumper was ok...NOT!) Wilson >> El-Cheapo > Firestik. What finally made me shell out the bucks was listening to expat on one of the Death Valley trips. He was the farthest away from me most of the times, and it sounded like he was bellowing in my cab compared to other people who were much closer. He had the same CB as others, but he had the Wilson 5000.

The only problem with the setup is the Wilson 5000 is TALL. Like adding 5' feet to your rig height... You start smacking into a LOT of things, so I carry the el-cheapo antenna for when I'm running in brush; it's a sub-2 footer. Most of my favorite trips are in the desert though, so the tall isn't usually a concern.

The Midland handheld is actually pretty darn cool with a car adapter kit, because you get all of the perks of a fixed unit while being able to take it out of the vehicle for walking about and spotting and such. Without a car kit, however, it's way too gutless to be heard over engine/road noise, and the built in antenna isn't good for much range.

I now use the 75 for the car unit, with the Midland available for walk-about. I've lost comms on enough trips where I want a backup, so that works well for me.

The 18 is a little nicer in my opinion, just because the volume/squelch controls are better. On the other hand the 75 removes the electronics from being right next to your stereo and dash wiring, so you get less noise. Shrug.

[Seanz0rz]

i like my 75, but it is a bit big and heavy in my hand, and depending on where you mount yours, the speaker can be hard to hear (can be solved with an external speaker, soon to be added to my list)

[4runnerchevy]

Having done the Ham thing, and the Bootleg CB thing. By far the best antenna is a 102" stainless whip, which is 1/4 wave for the 27 meg band. It can handle the most wattage. I used to pump 2200 watts on sideband into my 102" whip with no problem.

The problem we face is height, so 102" is not gonna work. The wilson is by far the best short antenna, but is still long. My guess is that the strong signals that are far away, are running linear amps and is not entirely your antennas fault. We also run into cab space so we run smaller radio's. Get a good little Cobra (no mic controls), buy an aftermarket Microphone to get the most of your 4 watts. If you want to get out, buy a linear, but its illegal (who's gonna catch you). Get a wilson, mount it on top (cause any metal around it will direct the signal). Adjust your antenna for a 1:1 SWR (stand wave ratio). DO NOT run duel antenna's unless you can get them 102" apart.

If you have space Get a Superstar, Ranger or better, AM/FM/SSB and modified 23 Meg to 31 meg. Get a Texas Star 1000w linear and bleed over everyones TV in a 5 mile radius.

2 cents

[X-Tool Pimp]

I say go with the classic 25 Cobra with a Echo box

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc245/tonytoolpimp/misc%20crap/P1010012.jpg

Or if you want a ton of power and features run a Galaxy 99 but they are $$

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc245/tonytoolpimp/misc%20crap/P1010013.jpg

[4x4mike]

Has anyone tried the Uniden Pro538W? This has the front fire speaker, weather channels and PA switch.







I had that unit in my truck. It was a good one but it is bigger than the DIN size. The 90 degree connector I bought for my in dash Cobra is a PL259 L connector.

Number 10 in this image
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.baproducts.com/images/rpm359.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.baproducts.com/rf-conn.htm&h=193&w=289&sz=6&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=r7ddcZ5tI9xOdM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3DPL259%2BL%2Bconnector%26um%3D1%26hl%3 Den%26sa%3DN

[4runnerchevy]

Or if you want a ton of power and features run a Galaxy 99 but they are $$

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc245/tonytoolpimp/misc%20crap/P1010013.jpg



The Galaxy can be modified pretty heavily!

[X-Tool Pimp]

:thumbup: yup this ones far from stock :smokin:

[RunnerUp]

whats the difference between the cobra 19 ultra 3 and the cobra 19 dxiv? they look exactly the same?