A CB antenna is the link between your CB radio and the outside world whenever you hit the trail. It determines your range, clarity and even makes your pickup look cooler.
Choosing the right antenna will boost your reception and make mounting it easier. You will get loud and clear conversations from other truck drivers, make friends, get updates and stay in the loop every time you go on a road trip.
Here are the top picks for CB antennas for a pickup truck that you will find quite attractive and functional.
Top CB Antenna for Pickup Trucks
| Name | Length | Type | Base | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stryker SR-2K Center Load Trucker CB Antenna | 5" or 10" | Center-Loaded | Screw | |
| Tram 3700 Trucker CB Antenna | 6" Stainless Steel | Center-Loaded | Screw | |
| Tram 703-HC Center Loan CB Antenna Kit | 2 Feet Tall | Center-Loaded | 3.5" Magnet Base Mount | |
| TRAM 3-B-HC Fiberglass CB Antenna | 3 Feet Tall | Fiber glass Top-Loaded | Screw | |
| RoadPro RP-711 Stainless Steel CB Antenna Kit | 24" | Center-Loaded | Magnet Base Mount | |
| Wilson 305-38 Little Wil Antenna | 36" | Base-Loaded | Magnetic Base Mount |
Stryker SR-2K Center Load Trucker CB Antenna
This easy to install and use center mount antenna is a great deal for the money. The Stryker SR-@K can either be bought in the 4” version or the 10” version hence you can choose depending on how long you can afford to extend your antenna.
Rated for 3600 Watts capacity in the 26 MHZ to 30 MHZ categories, it is easy to tune and you will get an impressive signal with the most popular CB antenna placement options.
This coupled with the very low loss coil gives you more talking power while the set screws on the assembly make it easier to make those final adjustments during SWR tuning faster.
Pros
- You can choose between 5” and 10” long shafts depending on preference
- Easy to install and tune
- Solid reception within the CB radio band
- High power handling capacity
Cons
- You will have to buy your own coaxial cable to hook it up to the CB radio
Tram 3700 Trucker CB Antenna
The Tram 3700 is a great buy if you are looking for something decent on a tight budget. The 6-inch long antenna is a center loaded design with a heavy-duty coil that guarantees you or impressive reception over years.
The antenna can handle up to 3700 W of power and will transmit far and clear when installing and wired properly. It has a thermoplastic round coil holder is specifically designed to reduce noise long before it gets to your CB radio.
It is designed to be a mirror mount antenna though you can place it in any other position you please.
Pros
- Designed to reduce radio noise before it gets to the radio
- Impressive transmission and reception range at an affordable price
- Very flexible and hard to break
Cons
- You might need additional mounting hardware
Tram 703-HC Center Loan CB Antenna Kit
This Tram 703-HC will give you reception across all the CB radio bands without much tuning making it a perfect fit for people who want great reception across the range.
The antenna is easy to install at different spots thanks to the 3.5” magnetic mount base making it easy to install and uninstall on demand. This gives you the chance to just get the antenna profile when you are hitting the road or trail and remove it when doing city cruising.
When installed, the antenna stands at around 2 feet tall making it nondescript without rendering it inefficient.
Pros
- The magnetic base makes installation and tuning easier
- Covers all CB frequencies
- The kit comes with a 17 foot RG58 cable for wiring it to your radio
- A set screw at the top of the antenna for easier SWR tuning
Cons
- Might not be good enough for use in high interference areas
TRAM 3-B-HC Fiberglass CB Antenna
Fiberglass CB antennas are known for their resilience, durability and lightweight build. The Tram 3-B-HC is no different. Its heavy-duty fiberglass construction gives you the flexibility and tenacity you need to endure bruises from branches when on the trail without dislodging or damaging it.
It can handle up to 1500 watts of power and sweeps across the entire CB band giving you great reception for channels near the CB radio transmission limit.
You will need some installation receptacle to accept the 3/8 inch x 24 thread mounting at the bottom of this 3-foot long antenna.
Pros
- Robust build with added spring for more flexibility makes it hard to break even when it brushes against branches on the trail
- A short profile without sacrificing on the range and signal clarity without running a lot of power
- Can hold its own even in top highway speeds
Cons
- Runs a bit hot and might even get damaged if you push too much power through it
RoadPro RP-711 Stainless Steel CB Antenna Kit
This center loaded CB antenna with a strong magnetic base is a great portable unit that you can either install on your truck’s roof permanently or just whip it out on demand.
The kit comes with a 9-foot coaxial cable that is long enough to run from the roof, hood or rear bumper to your CB radio without any hassle.
Pros
- Easy to install and tune thanks to the easy to adjust the top tip of the antenna
- A low profile perfect for people who want something less visible
- Comes bundled with an installation cable
Cons
- Is a bit of tradeoff between looks and performance
Wilson 305-38 Little Wil Antenna
If you are looking for a really small profile antenna that is easy to install and has a small profile, then the Wilson 305-38 Little Wil is a great idea. With a power handling capacity of 300 Watts and a huge 10 oz magnet, you can easily put this antenna on your truck’s roof or bonnet when you need and store it away in your car when you want.
The low profile builds is enhanced by the 36” length that the antenna needs to host its heavy-duty 14-gauge copper wire coil.
Pros
- Compact design
- Easy to install and uninstall thanks to the magnet
- The magnet will keep it firmly attached even when on the move
Cons
- Might not be a good idea if you want maximum range from your CB radio
Do You Need an Antenna for a CB Radio?
Yes. Without an antenna, your radio won’t get any reception. The better the antenna the better the reception range and clarity of the signals your radio will pluck off the air.
How High Should a CB Antenna Be?
The higher, or larger, the antenna the better the reception. The rule of the thumb is that larger higher mounted antennas get a better signal. Go for the biggest one you can afford and install it on high points on your truck like the fender or the top of your cabin or the rear and front bumper.
How to Choose the Right CB Antenna
Here are the top things to consider when choosing a CB antenna to mount on your truck.
The Length of the Antenna
Tall antennas get longer range than shorter. The ideal CB radio antenna should be as close to ¼ the wavelength of transmitting frequencies. This is around 8.5 feet long. Since this is out of range for most truck owners, you will be better off picking a high-quality short antenna that gives you decent reception without causing trouble every time you pull up at a drive-through.
Always go for something as long as you can conveniently install – unless the range isn’t a necessity. Shorter well-designed antennas will work well on short distances of under 3 miles.
The Brand
Buy antennas from reputable brands like Cobra, Wilson, Tram, and RoadPro. They are well designed and will offer the best range and clarity for length.
Location of the Coil
The location of the coil determines the loading of the antenna.
- Base-loaded antennas have the coil at the bottom and most have magnet mounting bases. They have a thicker coil and can handle more power.
- Center-loaded coils have the coil near the bottom but not at the base (it isn’t necessarily at the center of the antenna.) Below the coil is a thick shaft for support. They are bigger antennas mostly installed permanently
- Top-loaded antennas have the coil near the top. They are mostly made of fiberglass with a thin wire wrapped around the fiberglass. The fiberglass mast can be quit tall making top-loaded antennas great for low mount points. They are good for RVs, cars and pickup trucks. They are also very versatile and cheap.
Mounting Options
Mounting options determine the ease of setting up and disassembling the antenna. If you don’t want holes on your car, go for a magnetic antenna. Screw on antennas can be bigger with better reception but are harder to disassemble or move around for maximum reception
You can always pluck out a magnetic base antenna whenever you want to park in a low garage or if you don’t need it for city driving.
Bottom Line
A good antenna will give you better reception and transmission range. You won’t have to worry that much about using squelch or noise filtering features on the radio to get a better signal if you have a high-quality antenna that is well-tuned. The above brands and tricks on how to choose the best CB antenna for pickup trucks should point you in the right direction.