Phones work fine until the caravan hits a canyon, a dead zone or a construction detour, and nobody should be texting while they tow. A set of two-way radios keeps every rig in the group talking: the lead calls the turn, the tail confirms everyone made the light, and the spotter talks you into the site at the end of the day. Here is which radio type suits a convoy, how to set up channels, and how to run the caravan on the radio.
GMRS, FRS or CB for a convoy?
| GMRS | FRS | CB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | $35 FCC license, 10 years, covers immediate family | None | None |
| Power | Up to 50 W for vehicle radios on the main channels | 2 W maximum | 4 W on AM or FM, 12 W on single sideband |
| Antenna | Roof-mounted on vehicle radios | Fixed to the handheld | Large external antenna |
| Repeaters | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Rig-to-rig talk over long caravans and rough terrain | Short gaps, backing in, walking around camp | Road and traffic reports from truckers |
For most caravans, GMRS is the pick. On the highway the group stretches out, and trucks merge in between rigs. GMRS allows far more power than FRS, plus roof antennas and repeaters, so the lead can still reach the tail. The FCC puts GMRS range at one to twenty-five miles, depending on the type of station, the terrain and repeater use. A handheld inside a cab sits at the low end of that, and a vehicle radio with a roof antenna at the high end.
FRS needs no license, so it's the easy way to bring in a friend who hasn't licensed yet, and it's ideal for backing in. Its 2 W limit and fixed antenna make it unreliable once rigs are more than a short distance apart. FRS and GMRS share 22 channels, so the two can talk on the same channel.
CB is license-free and is what most truckers run, which makes it handy for traffic and road reports. For talking within your own group, it needs a big antenna to work well, and it carries a lot of chatter. Many caravans run GMRS for the group and keep a CB on for the road.
Licensing for a group
A GMRS license covers the licensee and their immediate family, so each family in the caravan needs its own. Friends traveling together can't share one license. It's an online application with no exam, and it costs $35 for 10 years; our GMRS license guide walks through it. Anyone who hasn't licensed can join on an FRS radio on a shared channel. For the full comparison, see GMRS vs FRS.
Handheld or vehicle radio?
- Handhelds are the easy start. They need no install, work for backing in and around camp, and go with you on a hike. From inside a truck cab, though, the metal body blocks much of the signal. Use a headset or eVOX hands-free mode so the driver isn't holding a radio.
- Vehicle (mobile) GMRS radios are wired in and use a roof antenna. That's the bigger range jump for long caravans and off-road groups.
We stock the Midland GXT1000VP4, a GMRS handheld 2-pack with 50 channels, NOAA weather alerts, eVOX hands-free talk and headsets. One radio rides in the tow vehicle and one stays with the spotter or co-pilot. For license-free backing-in radios, the Midland T51VP3 X-Talker FRS 2-pack does the job.
Set up a channel plan before you roll
Agree on these at the morning meeting, and write them on a card for each rig:
- Main channel and privacy code. Pick one channel and one privacy code (CTCSS/DCS) for the whole group. If anyone is on FRS, pick a channel both services share. Channels 15-22 are where GMRS rules allow the most power, while FRS radios stay at 2 W or less on any channel.
- Backup channel. If the main one gets busy, everyone knows where to go without a long discussion.
- Radio check. Before leaving, each rig calls in by name in order from lead to tail.
- Weather. Radios with NOAA weather alerts, like the GXT1000VP4, can warn of severe weather on the road. Keep at least one turned on.
Privacy codes don't make the channel private. They only filter what your radio plays, and others on the same channel can still hear you, so keep personal details off the air.
How to run a convoy on the radio
- Assign a lead and a tail. The lead knows the route and calls turns early ("left turn in half a mile at the gas station"). The tail confirms when the whole group is through a light or a merge ("tail's through, all clear").
- Use names, not "hey". "Blue Airstream, this is lead" is clearer than "hey, you".
- Keep it short. Plan what you'll say, press, pause a second, then speak. Let go when you're done so others can answer.
- Driver hands-free, passenger on the radio. Where there's a co-pilot, they handle the radio.
- Call out hazards. Low clearances, debris, gaps in the shoulder. The FCC allows warnings about hazardous road conditions on both GMRS and CB.
- Use your call sign. On GMRS, say your FCC call sign at the end of a conversation and every 15 minutes during a long one. A unit number after it ("unit 2") can identify each rig in the family.
- Listen before you talk. No channel belongs to one group. If you hear others, switch to your backup channel.
Emergencies
On GMRS, any channel can be used for emergency messages, and emergencies always get priority. In an emergency, the GMRS rules also let anyone use your radio to call for help, licensed or not. On CB, channel 9 is reserved for emergencies and traveler assistance only.
When the cell network goes down, a receive-only weather radio keeps storm and evacuation alerts coming. The hand-crank Midland ER310 is our best seller, and the lower-cost Midland ER40 makes a good second radio.
Caravan radio checklist
- One GMRS radio per rig, plus a GMRS license for each family
- FRS radios for anyone not licensed, and for backing in
- Headsets or hands-free mode for drivers
- Chargers, spare batteries and a 12 V charging option
- A channel card: main channel, privacy code, backup channel, rig names
- A weather radio for each campsite
More gear for the road and the trail is in our Overlanding & 4WD Gear collection.
FAQ
What is the best radio for an RV caravan?
GMRS, ideally a vehicle radio with a roof antenna in each rig. Handheld GMRS radios work for shorter caravans, and FRS radios fill in for anyone without a license.
Does every RV in the caravan need its own GMRS license?
Every family does. One license covers the licensee and their immediate family, not friends.
Can I use CB instead?
Yes. CB needs no license and is useful for trucker traffic reports. It needs a large antenna to work well, and its channels are busier, so many groups use GMRS for the caravan itself.
How far apart can rigs be?
It depends on terrain, antennas and power. The FCC gives one to twenty-five miles for GMRS. Handhelds in a cab reach much less than vehicle radios with roof antennas. Do a radio check as the group spreads out.
Can GMRS and FRS radios in the same caravan talk to each other?
Yes. They share 22 channels. Set them to the same channel and privacy code.