I agree the best option is to run whatever the folks you are with are running. All the cool gear in the world is useless if it isn't compatible. I also like redundancy for emergency communication so I would also include that in my vehicle plan.
However, if you have the ability to put any rudder on the group decision, I think GMRS is the best choice. You get more range and clarity than CB, and the licensing is fishing license simple. FRS is still compatible with GMRS for your cheep buddy with the blister pack radio, and you can plug into the local repeater network. Most people arent going to take the time or effort to get a HAM license, but GMRS is a reasonable ask.
IMHO- A good, mobile GMRS radio in the 15-25 Watt range, with a reasonable externally mounted antenna, is probably the best solution for most folks looking to trail-ride and off-road. You have a lot of options in that range, and you aren't going to break the bank. Folks (myself included) tend to gravitate towards the most powerful deck on the block, but I would be surprised if folks can tell the functional difference between one of the 50 watt radios and a 15-20 watt one. Terrain masking is going to limit your range much more than your power will, especially if you are off-roading someplace with interesting terrain and not say out in the middle of a Salt Flat. I also keep a bunch of cheap handhelds to hand out on your trail rides to spotters, other folks in the group without radios etc. All that is cheap insurance.
*RADIO NERD STUFF FOLLOWS-YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED* The one caveat to this: Midland advertises heavily for the off-roader/farm user and my impression is that many folks new to the GMRS radio world think that they are the only choice. I like their products and they build a nice radio that will meet most off-roader's needs out of the box (I run a MXT275 in my vehicle now). However, they are not the only game in town and there are other options that, depending on how you want to use it, could work better, are most likely cheaper, but will require more effort to use. My main gripe with Midland is the default to Narrow Band and split tone issues. Its fine if you are only going point to point with folks exclusively in the Midland radio architecture, but its a pain with anyone else, since almost every other radio is default to wide band. That's changed with the new MXT500, 575, and new versions of the 275, but I would sure want to make sure I had a version that could accommodate that change. You also have very limited options to program a Midland to run multiple repeaters if that's a concern, and I think you can only do that on a MXT500 and MXT400.
Anyway, thanks for making the video. This has become one of my favorite topics to discuss.
2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco
