The type of antenna (and length) does matter somewhat, but for the average Joe on the trail, I'd get a cheap one. If you're really into yakking on the CB, there are millions of opinions on what type, size, material, mounting position, etc. My first CB in my old Toy PU was a 30 y/o 23 channel Midland (back in 1985) with a radio shack flexible rubber magnet mount that was maybe a foot tall. It was great for trails, because it would flex enough on most things not to get knocked off, and being rubber, it wouldn't break or bend like a fiberglass or metal antenna. I had a working range mobile to mobile of about 3-5 miles (you gotta remember, Kansas is flat, and CB's work on line of sight reception, so hilly or mountainous areas will have a greatly decreased working range), and mobile to base up to 10 miles. Later I got a set of 4' Firestiks and mounted them to the bed just behind the cab on either side, which increased my mobile to mobile range to 8-10 miles and my mobile to base up to 15 miles. Right after I got the Jeep, I got Radio Shack's little 40 channel CB (small enough for a tight fit where the ashtray goes), and a Radio Shack magnet mount metal antenna. I bought those for a tornado chase with Tornado Tim up in Nebraska. I mounted the antenna on the passenger side cowl in front of the windshield, and had the CB laying on the floor for that trip, later mounted to the dash. It had a decent range, probably 5-7 miles mobile to mobile. I later got a 4' fiberglass (Jartran? Something like that) antenna and mounted it first to my lightbar on top. I had something like a 15-20 mile mobile to mobile range with it up there! I had to keep it tied down to the hood when I wasn't using it, so I could get in the garage. That got to be a pain, so I ended up mounting it to the spare tire bump stop with a bracket I got from Quadratec or 4wd.com. Still have somewhere around 10-12 miles mobile to mobile.
