Four wheelers generally need radios that are:
Most amateur radios are built by one of four companies:
The following 2 meter radios are compact, have an output power of at least 50 watts and are priced at less than $200.
Several radios made by Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, and even Radio Shack cover both the 2 meter and 70 centimeter ham bands. This permits crossband operation that in conjunction with a handheld lets your mobile radio act as a repeater. This is useful when you are hiking and lets you use the power of your mobie radio with the portability of your handheld.
Handheld radio are designed use when walking about and are great for event
coordination.
The main drawbacks to handhelds are low power and inefficient "rubber
ducyk" antennas. However, compact handhelds with super efficient batteries
are now available with power output of 5 watts. The batteries so good that
they reportedly can send continuously at 5 watts for 5 hours before running
down.
Since offroad vehicles are often very cramped without a suitable place to mount a mobile radio, compact handhelds can be an attractive alternative. Their size permits them to be mounted on the vehicle sun visor using a belt clip. Add a small speaker-microphone and an external antenna, and you have a credible mobile rig.
Dual band handhelds can also be used with a dual band mobile radio to crossband operation. This turns the mobile radio into a portable repeater which greatly increases the range of the handheld.
Both these radios are compact mobile rigs that put out up to 100 watts depending upon the band. The both require a good power source such as a truck battery.