I put a 40 Watt GMRS radio in my 4Runner (yes, I have a license) and it works great for when I'm on trips with my friends. The guys I go with regularly also have GMRS radios installed, and when first timers are joining us they pick up cheap FRS handhelds and we are still able to talk. I like GMRS because you can transmit at 40 Watts, whereas I think the limit for CB is 4 Watts.

But then I'll be driving down the highway and I'll see an awesome 4Runner or FJ with a long antenna. It would be awesome to be able to say hey on the radio, but probably they have a CB instead of GMRS, and even when they have GMRS, I don't know what the protocol is in trying to connect with them. Sometimes I'll start my radio scanning and then give a shoutout on channel 22, but I've never heard back from someone.

So two questions: why do most folks prefer CB over GMRS? And whats the protocol for connecting with someone you see randomly on the road? Is there a CB or GMRS channel that most people use to start a conversation?

For Christmas I'm looking to add a CB to my rig just so I can more easily connect with folks in these kinds of situations.