Start with a Technicians license. It's a 35 question multiple choice test. You can get the on-line course at HamTestOnline - Ham Radio Exam Courses and Practice Tests

Study at your own pace. I have hardly any electrical knowledge and passed with no problem. When your ready, find an examiner in your area here: Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area (enter your zip code and distance) Best of all, no code requirement!

After you pass, get a 2 meter rig, antenna and you're set. Word of advice, don't get one of the cheap $50 hand held transceivers. Their power output is pathetic. Get a nice mobile unit and put it in your Rover.

 

I have a cobra 29lx with a firestick brand no ground plane antenna mount on the rear tire carrier, neat little setup but yea, once I got my tech and general class ham lisence, I haven't touched it. 100+ watts uhf/vhf and repeaters all over you can get in touch just about anytime, and audio quality is far better then CB bands... equipment can be cheap or expensive... you can grab a surplus wide band vhf/uhf radio now dirt cheap since everything went narrowband, everyones gettin rid of the old stuff for cheap!

 

Yup. Those old 6 meter mobile rigs are dirt cheap. But not many people running an AM transceiver these days.
Speaking of old, my backup rig is a Swan 350.

 

Get a VHF Ham radio they are amazing and if used properly can actually be useful in an emergency situation. If you want a CB to connect with your off-road group they also work well but realistically are not much better than 2 way radios. CB's are better but not by a lot.
I bought a uniden 510 on ebay for $5.00, 6 years ago and it's worked fine ever since. Most of my club have switched to VHF though, that'll be my next ebay hunt.

 

gmrs handhelds work great too btw... and its a no knowledge test pay-permit use only good for 10 years. check the area, gmrs repeaters are legal, might not be many, but outside of theme park areas there are plenty of channels to choose from to avoid clutter... are cheap and sold in pairs at the local best buy or radioshack or whatever so you can toss one to a friend. plus they have a mobility factor, if your battery dies in the car or you go for a hike or climb you can bring the radio with you. and leave one in the car or with a buddy.

 

I'm a big fan of these too. They work great and have a fantastic range. Cheap to get into also.

Get the Midland 50-Channel GMRS Radios at Walmart.com. Save money. Live better.

There are MANY options here:

gmrs - Walmart.com

 

Hi, so nice to hear. I have the same unit which allowed me to sail from Panama back to BC and I want to put it into my truck. I am interested in the size and location of your antenna, your grounding and location for the ATU. Cheers, VA7CGY

 

Just an NMO magnet mount (2 meter) mounted on the roof toward the center-rear. (Don't have the rear sunroof.) I'm looking at the tarheel ant ( LittleTarheel HP ) but have better ways to spend $400
I tried an 8 foot whip with an adjustable choke coil mounted to the receiver hitch but that just didn't work out. So for now, no HF in the Disco but if I see a deal then I might get it.
Going to the hamfest this Sat and hope to find a mobile ant that covers 2m & 6m.

 

I have the cb mounted on the rear tire carrier, and the vhf/uhf antenna on a lip mount on the hood of the car, i took pics for ya but I forgot my password to my photohosting software lol. ill make a new one tonight if you wanna see.

 

I was wondering if this would become a CB vs. Ham debate, they usually do.

I've had a Cobra 75WX for about 11 years and it meets my needs.

What I would suggest is see what the people you plan to travel with use and follow suit, be it CB or Ham.
In general a CB will be pretty useless if everyone is using Ham, and vice versa, regardless of which is "better".