Even though DW is what I call "the Hitch Ball Wizard" (an amazing spotter), there are times (in the darkness, especially) that I can't see her hand signals while backing up. And I can't hear her over the engine noise unless she shouts, which is not so great in a campground late at night. So I am lobbying hard for walkie talkies. Her objection is that they are unreliable and they eat batteries.So that is my question -- just for spotting, which ones do you recommend? We don't need to talk across town -- if the range is a hundred feet, that is enough! How is the clarity, and how is the battery life, on your favorite walkie talkies?Thanks in advance for your advice. (PS -- I tried to use the archive to see if this particular question has been asked before and came up empty.)

If you both have cellphones, save your money and use them.

We've been using Cobra CXR900's for 3 years until last summer my son and his friend jumped into the lake with two of them. They worked great for spotting and communicating with the kids in the campground. Looking for waterproof now.Any GMRS radio will work fine for what you need. Have you tried using your cellphones?Good luck.

Motorola does a good job. But truthfully any of them will do what you need. 50 dollars for rechargable ones will last years

We use walkie talkies. Even with fulltiming, the batteries last at least a month or two unless you leave it on. We've had different ones over the years - they all worked pretty much the same. Really, you are only 40 feet apart and only use them for a max of five minutes at a time. Pick one. You can get a pair with rechargeable batteries but you have to remember to recharge them - we never do. Cell phones don't work if there is no cell signal, the radios do. Too often, we find ourselves too far from cell signal to use them. Also with the radios, if I wander away, I can carry one for 'just in case.' :)

I bought ours in Wallyworld... about $40, has rechargeable batteries or you can use AA batteries. Works very good. Without getting up to check them, I think they are Cobra's.

Which brand & model of walkie talkies for my "spotter?"

47 Replies

RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2014
Any of the FRS radio work just fine. It you get one with PRIVATE LINE on them it might block other users from being heard on your unit.

We also stumbled onto using an old multi-telephone setup. We had an old four handset model not being used. Just plug it into 120VAC or wire up for 12VDC using the proper adapter. The handsets work great in intercom mode... Does not need to be connected to a working telephone connection.

Roy Ken
profdant139
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2014
I should have added that we can't use phones most of the time because there is no coverage -- we try to camp in remote places, as far from civilization as possible. (We live smack dab in the middle of a huge city -- the goal is to get away!)
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2014
I bought ours in Wallyworld... about $40, has rechargeable batteries or you can use AA batteries. Works very good. Without getting up to check them, I think they are Cobra's.
dahkota
Explorer
Dec 06, 2014
We use walkie talkies. Even with fulltiming, the batteries last at least a month or two unless you leave it on. We've had different ones over the years - they all worked pretty much the same. Really, you are only 40 feet apart and only use them for a max of five minutes at a time. Pick one. You can get a pair with rechargeable batteries but you have to remember to recharge them - we never do.

Cell phones don't work if there is no cell signal, the radios do. Too often, we find ourselves too far from cell signal to use them. Also with the radios, if I wander away, I can carry one for 'just in case.' :)
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2014
Motorola does a good job. But truthfully any of them will do what you need. 50 dollars for rechargable ones will last years
Halmfamily
Explorer
Dec 06, 2014
We've been using Cobra CXR900's for 3 years until last summer my son and his friend jumped into the lake with two of them. They worked great for spotting and communicating with the kids in the campground. Looking for waterproof now.

Any GMRS radio will work fine for what you need. Have you tried using your cellphones?

Good luck.
mhardin
Explorer
Dec 06, 2014
If you both have cellphones, save your money and use them.

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Which brand & model of walkie talkies for my "spotter?"

47 Replies

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