What is aggravating is I noticed the coax I connect my SWR meter with is
kinda messed up at the ends...so who knows if its even giving an
accurate reading, although I'd be willing to bet it is since I cant seem
to even get a radio check response on the highway.

If it's a crimped end, the ground has pulled loose. Put a PL-259 on
it. You'll need an RG-175 reducer for RG-58 and an RG-176 reducer for
RG-8X or RG-8M. I never trust a crimped PL-259. Too many bad ones.