If you’re a person who spends too much time on the road, between the landscapes in the countryside, you’re probably aware of the fact that sometimes the communication may get tricky and you might be left out of signal in the middle of nowhere.
To prevent this from happening, you should have the right equipment and have something more reliable than a smartphone.
Even though smartphones are our primary sources of communication nowadays, sometimes they don’t work as we want them to.
For that reason, you might provide yourself with the appropriate CB antenna for your pickup truck and avoid losing signal ever again.
The CB antenna is the best solution to enhancing your signal in the pickup truck, but you have to find the right one and get the most out of it.
If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve made a round-up list of the best antennas on the market along with their features.
See Our Best CB Antennas For Pickup Trucks
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1. Stryker SR-2K Center Load Trucker CB Antenna
- Two shaft lengths.
- Low loss coil.
- Already set screws.
- 3600-watt capacity.
The Stryker SR-2K antenna is known for exceptional performance, excellent efficiency, and quality. It includes both 5” and 10” shafts, so it’s quite adaptable depending on your needs.
This antenna prides itself on seamless long-range communication, thanks to its power handling that goes to 3600 Watts.
It also features an extremely low loss coil, providing the best performance at its maximum level.
The SR-2K is quite durable as well because of its thermoplastic, meaning that it shields the coil in any type of weather conditions.
Also, the screws are already set, which makes the SWR tuning painless and extremely easy.
Specifications
Pros
- Extremely durable.
- Weather channel ready.
- Painless SWR tuning.
- Very easy to install.
Cons
- Not a great match for regular CBs.
2. K40 K-30 35" Magnet Mount Truck CB Antenna
- 180° radius tip.
- Base loaded coil.
- 300 Watt AM power capacity.
- 15’ Pre-wired coax cable.
The K-30 model antenna by K40 is ideally the best choice for the CB user who wants optimal performance from an antenna, packed in a more compact design.
It comes with a 15’ RG-58U coaxial cable, making it long-lasting and it considerably strengthens the signal, allowing you to communicate from wherever you are.
This antenna specifically does not have a ball or magnet at the top of it. Instead, it has a 180° radius tip that picks up signals from a great distance.
Lastly, the antenna has a sturdy magnet mount, meaning that you can easily place it on different vehicles and it will stay completely stable.
Specifications
Pros
- 17-7 Stainless steel whip antenna.
- Magnet base.
- Great range.
- Sturdy and strong.
Cons
- Difficult to install.
3. FireStik FL3-B FireFly CB Antenna For Pickup Truck
- Flexible fiberglass tube.
- Easy-tuning tip.
- 100 Watt power capacity.
- High-quality coil.
If you’re looking for a durable antenna that could handle low obstructions such as tree branches, the FL3-B model by FireStik is a perfect choice!
Compared to other antennas, this one is 40% lighter and much more flexible.
This is one of the few antennas that work with all CB radios and the tuning has never been easier – you could do it with your bare hands, thanks to the turnable tip!
It also features a high-quality coil that maximizes the antenna’s performance.
Finally, the antenna also has NOAA weather channels, keeping the driver informed of any hazardous weather events.
Specifications
Pros
- Lightweight.
- NOAA weather channel compatible.
- Sturdy and durable.
- Simple to install.
Cons
- Minor issues with the turnable tip.
4. Wilson T2000 Red Mobile CB Trucker Antenna
- 3500 Watt power capacity.
- Low loss air coil design.
- Thermoplastic coil.
- 5” shaft; 49” steel whip.
The T2000 series antenna from Wilson comes in a 5-inch shaft with a 49-inch steel whip and it’s rated at a 3500 Watt power capacity.
Thanks to its larger coil, it allows the antenna to handle larger power. Wilson has also included the patented low loss air in its design.
The red coil is made from the finest engineered thermoplastic and uses a 10-gauge silver for its wire. The antenna’s frequency goes from 26 to 30 MHz, promising a great range of use.
Lastly, the T2000 series also includes a static reducing weather cap, promising great reception even in bad weather conditions.
Specifications
Pros
- Easy to install.
- Increased power handling.
- Static reducing weather cap.
- Stable and solid.
Cons
- Noisy on receiving end.
5. Tram 3700 Trucker CB Antenna
- Heavy-duty coil.
- 3700 Watt power capacity.
- Thermoplastic coil.
- HDMI to DVI connector.
The Tram 3700 is a CB antenna that is quite durable and performs exceptionally. It is 52” long, with a shaft of 6” meaning that it is designed for long-distance communication and the stainless steel adds to its sturdiness.
The antenna is also quite flexible, so you don’t need to worry whether it’s taking hits on any obstructions.
The coil is heavy-duty, made from engineered thermoplastic which helps with the noise reduction of the signal.
It has also a high power capacity – going to 3700 Watts, so you can expect quality transmission and receiving signals as well.
Specifications
Pros
- Long-range.
- Low noise reduction.
- Flexible.
- Great SWR.
Cons
- Faulty set screws.
6. Cobra HG A1000 CB Antenna For Pickup Truck
- 21” Magnet mount CB antenna.
- 100 Watt power capacity.
- Heavy-duty coax cable.
- Broadband frequency range.
This high-performing antenna by Cobra has lots of great features in its caliber. The 21” antenna is placed on a heavy-duty magnet stand, ensuring it stays exactly where it’s placed!
On the other hand, it’s quite easy to install too – you can effortlessly place it on different vehicles or remove it when you’re not using it.
The antenna works with almost all CB radios, providing 100 Watt power capacity for signal reception and it has a frequency of 26-30 MHz.
Ultimately, the antenna is also weather channel ready, meaning you can connect to an NOAA weather channel and get information on any upcoming weather events.
Specifications
Pros
- Durable and sturdy.
- Turnable whip.
- Scratch-resistant base.
- Easy to install.
Cons
- Uneasy removal.
Truck CB Antenna Buying Guide
Purchasing a CB antenna for your pickup truck might get crazy with all of the features offered by many manufacturers.
There is a wide choice of different antennas available on the market, so it’s understandable that you might get confused and don’t know which one to buy, especially if it’s your first time obtaining one.
However, there is no need to panic since we’ve made a guide that will give you all the information you need and enable you to make the right choice which will contribute to better communication.
Placement
The placement of the antenna is important because it determines the way you’re going to obtain a signal.
Therefore, you have to think about where you would be able to place it, before even buying one.
There are different places where you can put your antenna – the roof, mirror bars, bumper, hood channel, or trunk.
You can have a hidden CB antenna, or you can place it to be seen. But, there are few things you have to consider since the places where you put it play a big role and they have advantages and disadvantages.
You need to know that antennas that are placed higher on the truck tend to get a better signal, and at least half of the antenna has to be above the roofline to get its optimal performance.
If you purchase a single antenna, you should place it near the center of the vehicle.
If this isn’t established, it can lead to blockages produced by the vehicle, therefore the transmitting or the sending of the signal may be unsuccessful.
Dual co-phased antennas can be mounted on each side of the vehicle, and that way you may avoid blockages of the signal.
As you can see, placement plays an essential role in transmitting signals, and there are different types of antennas that require various positions.
Therefore, if you decide where you can place it, then you can choose between magnet mount or roof mount antennas.
Magnet Mount
Magnet mount antennas attach to the roof of your truck with a large magnet.
The amazing feature of the magnet mount is that you position it on the center of the roof, meaning you get an exceptional signal.
As we mentioned before, the higher the antenna, the better the signal.
Magnet mount antennas are proven to work the best and they offer magnificent communication through the transmission of clear signals.
However, if you decide on a magnet mount, you have to be careful not to damage the paint of your vehicle.
The magnets these antennas use are big and strong, so you’d have to clean the surface properly to avoid any magnet harm on your pickup truck.
Roof Mount
A roof mount is also a good option for the position of the antenna.
It’s applied in the center of the roof, just the difference is in the mechanism you use for the placement.
With roof mount antennas, you have to drill holes on the roof of your vehicle.
If you choose this option, you have to ensure to pick the center for the placement, because that way you can be sure that you’ll be obtaining a good signal.
The roof is always the best choice because the stations that transmit the signals are always positioned higher, meaning that to get a better signal, you need to have a device that’s properly set up.
Antenna Length
Besides the placement, an important role plays the antenna’s length as well.
This means that you’ll obtain better signals if your antenna is longer.
You can choose different lengths, and this should be determined by your level of comfort.
In other words, you’re the one who needs to drive a pickup truck and pay attention to the antenna not to get damaged.
The most common antennas nowadays are the fiberglass ones, and they’re available in 36 inches, 48 inches, and 60 inches.
Even though the longer antennas produce better signals, you should keep in mind that they might get damaged by long hanging branches and similar obstacles.
Materials
When it comes to choosing the materials of which the antenna is made, you have to decide whether you’re going for flexibility or sturdiness.
Nowadays, the commonly chosen antennas are the fiberglass ones, and if you’re looking for flexibility, this would be the right choice.
They’re easily handled and they’re quite resistant to cracks. Their elasticity contributes to withstanding a hit by obstacles while on the road.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something sturdy and strong, then you would have to go for stainless steel antennas.
These antennas are stable and solid, but they lack elasticity, so it’s more difficult for them to withstand a hit by a branch or something similar.
This problem might be fixed by mounting the antenna on a spring, so you wouldn’t run the risk of losing your antenna in a hit.
Installation
The installation of the antenna might be done in several ways, and this primarily depends on the placement.
When you decide where you would like to position your antenna, then you will know how the installation process is going to be.
If you decide on a magnetic mount, then you would just have to place the magnet on top of your roof or your trunk.
Placing a magnet might sound easy, but you have to be careful not to damage the paint of your vehicle.
Therefore, you would have to thoroughly clean the surface and then place the magnet.
Other types of mounting may require drilling, adjusting, and measuring, depending on the place you’re going to set it up.
There are a lot of techniques, but the safest way is always by following the instructions given in the package.
Pricing Range
Depending on the quality and the material of the antenna, the price range may vary a lot. If you opt for a fiberglass antenna, you can find one at the lowest price of $15.
On the other hand, if you go for a magnet mount, then you should be prepared to pay around $100.
Of course, there are different types of antenna and various manufacturers, so you may see different prices on the market.
However, you should keep in mind that the cheap antennas may not work for a long time due to the fact that those manufacturers save money on materials, product testing, and similar things while producing them.
Our Verdict
In conclusion, we can say that communication is the key factor in life, not only on the road, and sometimes we can’t rely on our cellphones.
For that reason, we need something that will keep us safe and in touch with the world all the time.
To provide yourself with good communication, you have to obtain a good signal and to achieve that, you need a good CB antenna.
That way you’ll always feel secure during your journeys.
As you could see from our list, you have a lot of choices, and even if you’re new at this, our guide will definitely help in your decision.
If you understand the features which are important in an antenna, then you’ll be able to pick the right one without effort.
