Run the convoy on one of channels 15-22. Every GMRS radio can transmit there (mobiles at up to 50 watts, handhelds at their full power) and FRS radios can join at 2 watts. Avoid 8-14: mobile radios aren't allowed to transmit on them. No channel is the official off-road channel. Your trail leader picks one, plus a backup, and says so at the trailhead.
Where these rules come from
Channel and power rules are from 47 CFR Part 95, Subpart E (GMRS) and Subpart B (FRS), linked to the eCFR text current as of October 1, 2026 and checked October 3. Conventions are labelled as conventions and sourced to who promotes them. How we research.
Which channel works for whom
| Channels | Frequencies (MHz) | GMRS mobile | GMRS handheld | FRS handheld | Convoy use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-7 | 462.5625-462.7125 | Yes, 5 W ERP max | Yes, 5 W ERP max | Yes, 2 W ERP | Fine, but busy in campgrounds and towns |
| 8-14 | 467.5625-467.7125 | No | Yes, 0.5 W ERP max | Yes, 0.5 W ERP | Avoid: mobiles can't transmit |
| 15-22 | 462.5500-462.7250 | Yes, up to 50 W | Yes | Yes, 2 W ERP | Best choice for mixed groups |
| 15R-22R (repeater) | Transmit 467.5500-467.7250, listen on 462 | Through a repeater only | Through a repeater only | No | When a repeater covers the area and the owner allows use |
Rules: channel frequencies and who may transmit, 95.1763; GMRS power, 95.1767; FRS channel numbers and power, 95.563 and 95.567. The channel numbers themselves are FRS numbering; the GMRS rules list frequencies.
The 8-14 rule is easy to trip over. The FCC only lets hand-held portable units transmit on those 467 MHz frequencies (95.1763(d)), at no more than 0.5 W ERP (95.1767(c)). That's why Midland's MicroMobiles advertise 15 channels, and why the MXT115 PRO lists 8-14 as receive only. Put the run on channel 10 and the Jeeps with mobiles can hear the handhelds but can't answer.
Repeater channels transmit on 467 MHz, 5 MHz above the 462 MHz frequency you listen on. Mobile and handheld radios may only use those 467 MHz main channels through a repeater or for brief tests (95.1763(c)). Repeaters belong to their licensees, who may open them to anyone or limit them to specific people (95.1705(d)), so ask first. Our repeater guide covers finding one.
Conventions you'll hear about (none are FCC rules)
- Channel 20 (462.675 MHz) with a 141.3 Hz tone. Some websites list it as a "national calling" or "traveler's assistance" channel; Wikipedia attributes the listing to the RadioReference wiki. It's a convention, not an FCC rule.
- Channel 19 (462.650 MHz), no tone. In 2026 Midland began "officially promoting 19 as the Radio Chatter Channel for anyone on the road," and sells a decal for it. A manufacturer's convention, not an FCC rule.
- Channel 16 as "the off-road channel." You may hear this, but we found no authoritative source for it. Treat it as one group's habit, not a standard.
Channel 19 or 20 can be a handy place to find other travelers on the drive in. For your own run, a quieter channel from 15-22 that nobody else is using works better.
Build the radio plan at the trailhead
- Pick a primary channel from 15-22 and listen for a minute to make sure it's quiet. All GMRS and FRS channels are shared, and the rules expect users to cooperate in choosing channels (95.359).
- Pick a backup channel, also from 15-22, in case the primary gets busy.
- Agree on one tone (CTCSS) for both, or none. Tones are squelch filters, not privacy (95.1777): they stop your radio opening for other groups, but everyone on the channel can still hear you.
- Assign roles: lead, tail (sweep) and a number for each rig in order.
- Do a radio check before rolling: lead calls, each rig answers in order.
- Write it down. Our printable GMRS frequency card has blank "our group" lines for exactly this.
On the trail: calls that keep a convoy moving
The lead talks most. Typical calls are short and specific:
| Situation | Example call |
|---|---|
| Turn | "Lead. Left at the fork, by the cattle guard." |
| Hazard | "Lead. Washout on the right in 100 yards, stay left." |
| Oncoming traffic | "Lead. Two vehicles coming down, pull right at the wide spot." |
| Count-down past a gate or junction | "Three through." … "Four through." … "Tail through, gate closed." |
| Stop request | "Five to lead, need to stop, tire low." |
| End of a series | "…closing the gate. WRXX123 unit 2." |
The tail confirms when the last rig is through anything that splits the group. If the tail goes quiet for a few minutes on a twisty section, the lead stops and calls back. UHF doesn't go through ridges, so on switchbacks the tail can lose the lead even when they're close as the crow flies.
Rules that apply on the trail
- Identify: say your call sign at the end of a transmission or series and at least every 15 minutes (95.1751). One call sign covers your family's radios; add a unit number, like "WRXX123 unit 2". "WRXX123" is a made-up example.
- No hot mics: continuous transmissions are prohibited except for immediate safety of life or property (95.1733(a)(10)). That includes a mic wedged under a seat. No music either (95.1733(a)(4)).
- Emergencies come first on every channel (95.1731(a)). There's no dedicated GMRS emergency channel; call on whatever channel will reach people. "Mayday" is reserved for a vehicle, ship or aircraft in immediate danger (95.1733(a)(7)). More in our GMRS emergency channel guide.
The on-air manners beyond the rules (listen first, keep it short, how to do a radio check) are in GMRS radio etiquette. CB groups add their own convoy lingo (front door, back door, rocking chair), decoded in CB slang and 10-codes.
Gear for a mixed group
A typical setup: GMRS mobiles in the rigs, and handhelds for spotters and passengers. For the rigs, a compact mobile like the Midland MXT275 (15 W, 15 channels plus 8 repeater channels). For licensed family members walking the trail, GMRS handhelds such as the Midland GXT1000VP4 two-pack (50 channels, 142 privacy codes, NOAA weather alert). For friends with no license, FRS radios like the Midland LXT600VP3 (FRS, license free, 121 CTCSS codes) join on the same channels at FRS power.
Everyone in the rigs needs to be covered by a GMRS license: yours covers your immediate family (95.1705(c)(2)), and other drivers need their own. It's a $35 application fee (47 CFR 1.1102; the FCC fee page lists no separate regulatory fee) and no exam: how to get a GMRS license.
If some rigs still run CB, someone needs both radios to relay. Many clubs that run CB use channel 4, but each club picks its own; all 40 are in our CB frequency chart. The trade-offs are in GMRS vs CB for off-roading, the mobile picks are in the best GMRS radio for a Jeep, and for the CB side, see the best CB radio for a truck or Jeep.
Sources: 47 CFR 95.563, 95.567, 95.359, 95.1705, 95.1731, 95.1733, 95.1751, 95.1763, 95.1767, 95.1777, eCFR current as of October 1, 2026. Conventions: Wikipedia, General Mobile Radio Service, and Midland's Channel 19 page, both checked October 3, 2026. Product details from Amazon listings and Midland's MXT115 PRO page. How we research · Affiliate disclosure