WRXB215

I think GMRS is rad, I got my license but just don't have a lot of people in east San Diego using repeaters.  A new one went up recently and I actually talked to a guy on it which was kinda cool, other than that I have never had a radio check come back to me on the other one.  I got my HAM license and it is night and day, tons of good strong repeaters on peaks, lots of people talking and through a linked system I can hit my house 100+ miles away from down in the desert.  

Seems like it would be listed under GMRS but instead they make you search for it.
Here is the link to the GM-15 Pro on their website.

I have a few GMRS antennas but I mostly have and use Abbree 701 and 771 dual band antennas and they work just fine. A GMRS antenna probably works better but I have not had any issues using the UV antennas.

I learned that lesson years ago buying sockets. After my second trip get a new socket, the light went on. 🤔

BTECH has released the new GMRS-RPT50 repeater, a 50-watt GMRS repeater with a built-in duplexer and auto-IDer. Here are some key features:
FCC-certified for GMRS FCC ID: 2AGNDGMRSRPT50 50 Watt Output Power 100% Duty Cycle @ 50W Built-in Duplexer Morse Code Auto IDer Wideband / Narrowband Selectable Rack Mountable (hardware included) 13.8V DC or 120V AC power Expansion Ports Firmware Upgradable PC Programmable Free Shipping
We carry the repeater in our online shop, and it's available for immediate purchase:
https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/repeaters-and-accessories/products/btech-gmrs-rpt50-50w-gmrs-repeater-with-built-in-auto-id

I have not. 
Genuine LMR400 is only $1.62 per foot:
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/tmv-lmr-400
 
400Max from DXEngineering is $1.45/ft.

Yes, SWR is a transmit function, but losing 3 dB is still signal loss, so yes, the length of the cable WILL effect receive!

I think what they mean to say is the current could flow through the radio during a high current event with some failure point. If say your negative ground from your starter were to break or corrode badly enough (which is common in older vehicles) , the the current or part of it *could* find it's way through your radio through the negative lead

I’ve ran into a few. Fortunately just a small number. Most are paranoid about getting ANY negative feedback. I’ve gotten refunds from sellers that said in their ads “NO RETURNS”. In general my experience has been pretty good.

When the PL-259 and SO-239 connectors were first introduced, they were called UHF connectors, but now UHF runs from 300 MHz to 3000 MHz and the PL259 and SO-239 are not very good connectors for that high of frequency.  The losses for almost everything in radio increase at higher frequencies.  Some PL259 and SO239 connectors have a lot of insertion loss above 300 MHz.  N connectors solve that problem.  Unfortunately, almost every manufacturer sold in the US puts SO-239 connectors on their radios.  Most manufacturers of UHF antennas make antennas with N connectors as well as SO239.
It's a little confusing, but PL259 is the PLug and SO239 is the SOcket.  The numbers came from the military.
In an ideal world, GMRS radios would have N female connectors on their backplanes.
Fortunately, Messi & Paloni (M&P) and probably Times Microwave (as Amphenol) have developed higher frequency SO239 and PL259 connectors that are supposed to be good for frequencies in excess of GMRS.
I buy cables with connectors, but I have cut them to custom lengths. But to me this is a hobby and doiing things like this are enjoyable.
DXEngineering will make up cables with whatever connectors you want to any length you want.  The tools required for the Times Microwave are pretty pricey but you can get by with just a decent crimper and utility knife if you're very careful.  M&P can be done with just a soldering iron and wrenches. 

Laird 4605 and LMR400 from Times Microwave....I'd rather spend the funds now vs speniding money over and over for the same thing. 
 

As @kidphc mentioned this is an example of what a "read" of a radio can show you.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new
 

If you buy from Kemp, or any reputable dealer, you tell them what you want and they will sell it to you OR, they'll tell you what they have on-hand .. if you buy from ebay, beware, its a den of thieves and liars.

TX power has nothing to do with reception. If you are on the edge of the repeaters coverage then have 3db of loss in cable that's most likely your issue. A 50 watt radio will not receive any better than a 5 watt radio. Depending on the repeater this may be your issue.

I should add, we have good coverage with no repeater with both the Midlands and the Baofengs.  
 
We’re in a pretty heavily wooded area with rolling hills.  

Sounds like a great trip. My wife and I have taken similar trips out that way. Found the guardian lions of the desert just by chance out on Route 66 Near Amboy, west of Needles.

Yes elevation above obstructions is your friend. If you and your contact can safely climb onto the roof of your houses with the radios as a test to see if that helps then you will know that it is possible and that a roof top or high window location for a remote antenna should work. Don't forget to hold the radios/antennas vertical for best performance.

Nobody can answer that with any accuracy more than "maybe".. The only way to know is to try it.
If you can't reach them, then next step before base setups would be by connecting both radios to mobile-antennas on a cookie-sheet and put them in a high-up window.. This will greatly extend the fars.

My wife and I took a driving trip last week to Utah and Arizona. We spent most of our time in Southern Utah. Ahead of the voyage I looked up all of the listed repeaters in the areas we would be travelling. I requested access to three repeaters and received a response from one repeater owner (thanks WRVI568). I loaded everything onto my 935G+ and used it with a mag mount mobile antenna. I also loaded 2m repeaters into a VX-6R with a stock antenna. I eventually just used the stock antenna on the 935G+ as well. I scanned GMRS channels and repeaters most of the time.
We drove through multiple National Parks where I heard the only GMRS traffic for the whole trip and that was on FRS. I was scanning on 2m and heard a short communication out in the middle of nowhere on simplex. I did test a couple of the repeaters to make sure I was getting out. We stayed out of the larger towns and mainly stuck to the scenic routes. We carried radios when we did some hiking but stayed together so we never used them. When we got back to Northern Arizona I scanned railroad frequencies with the 935G+. I'm a nerd and enjoyed hearing the EOT signals and occasional yard conversations.  In AZ we drove old Route 66 from Williams to Needles. Really enjoyed the Burma Shave signage. It was a great trip. 
That is how I enjoy using radios when travelling.

Well that’s a bit cryptic…..

It's just another excuse. If he gets called out and pushed for more details, he'll make up some lie to justify acting like a dickhead. 

I see on RR forum you asked for a GMRS mobile radio recommendation. You should ask that here.
For GMRS specific certified radios (which your B-Tech is not). Wouxun is the current leader. The KG-1000G+ and the KG-XS20G+ are the top radios as far as many are concerned. They are however very feature rich and are geared toward what you might call "power users"(or radio dorks) who want all those features. They are well built and perform very well. They are not rebranded or sold under other names (that I have ever seen) unlike most other China brands. Buy Two Way Radios is the place to get them. They are a sponsor of this site. They are the importers and work with Wouxun to design the radios for the American market.
Midland is geared toward and popular with folks that just want a more basic radio that is very easy to use and simple to operate.
All GMRS radios are made in China including Midland.
Some will recommend buying a used commercial radio but there is a lot to learn to use them. Maybe after you become a more seasoned radio operator you could look into that option.
Just my 2 cents.
 

Aint that the truth. I don't have very many radios but I've seen quite the interesting difference in the ones I have.

As I recall that has to do with Menu 29: DSPCHANNEL being set to CH, instead of either FREQ or NAME.
Push the FUN button to enter the Menu Mode and use the V/M button as UP and MAIN button as DOWN to go to Menu: 29.
When you are at Menu: 29, use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to go through the 3 different selections (CH, FREQ and NAME) and pick either FREQ or NAME as you desire and then Push the FUN button to exit out of Menu Mode.
V/M should now toggle between VFO and Memory (Channel) modes now.

And change the tones from time to time.