Anyone with 3 kids?

[yosemitesamiam]

Hey all. My truck went off to its new home today. I'm wondering if there is anyone out there with 3 kids (family of 5) who go camping in their 80s. Need advice on packing/roof racks, etc...and where you have your kids sit!

I ask because I'm considering buying a 93/94 Cruiser only for the fact that they don't have a front passenger airbag and I can put one child in front. I'm just real limited to what's out there in those years, with lockers and low miles. I might even consider wiring in an airbag shutoff.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

 

[yosemitesamiam]

I should mention...when child 3 arrives, I'll have one 4 year old in a booster, one 1.5 year old in a regular seat facing forward, and a newborn.

Thanks again.

Sam

 

[cptmud]

i have 5 kids and pack almost every thing on the roof rack as theres not much in the back . only the fridge and tool box/recovery gear go in the back.

 

[cruiserdan]

You will want a rack. Slee sells a nice one form South Africa and Alvaro sells one from South America.

 

[RAYJON]

Have 3 oldest being 4.5 .... and take alot of trips.. We put 3 across in the middle and take the back seats out and pack all our crap in the back... (when the baby was real little we put my 4 year old in the back row and my wife sat in the back seat.) We dont use a roof rack much and the ice chest goes inside. For camping you would deffinately need the rack.. Also as for outfiting make sure you get some OME heavy springs they really make a difference when loaded.. a little rough empty but worth it.. Any other questions please ask,

Cruisers are great with kids.. and with the 3rd row you can get 7 people (2 being kids in the rear) without too much of a problem....


BTW since you are in Glendora.. check out our SoCal 80's fourm in the group section...

 

[cruiser88]

5 of us load up in the 62 can put all of the gear on top

 

[Cattledog]

I have three. They are 7 months, 4 and 5. They all fit well across the middle row. I have both 4 and 5 year olds in Britax husky seats and the 7 month in a rear facing infant seat in the middle. Plenty of room in the back for car camping. For the long "family/inlaw" Christmas/holiday trips I have a hitch mounted water proof cargo carrier. Have yet to need more room. The cargo carrier didn't effect the gas mileage.

While not as cool looking as an ARB roof rack the cargo carrier is better for gas mileage and easier to access. BTW the setup was much cheaper, even with a custom made waterproof cargo box. I can still open the upper rear gate with the box on the hitch carrier. But departure angle sucks.....

 

[yosemitesamiam]

Have 3 oldest being 4.5 .... and take alot of trips.. We put 3 across in the middle and take the back seats out and pack all our crap in the back... (when the baby was real little we put my 4 year old in the back row and my wife sat in the back seat.) We dont use a roof rack much and the ice chest goes inside. For camping you would deffinately need the rack.. Also as for outfiting make sure you get some OME heavy springs they really make a difference when loaded.. a little rough empty but worth it.. Any other questions please ask,

Cruisers are great with kids.. and with the 3rd row you can get 7 people (2 being kids in the rear) without too much of a problem....


BTW since you are in Glendora.. check out our SoCal 80's fourm in the group section...

Thanks guys...lots of info here! Yeah, Glendora for the time being...soon to be Colorado Springs! I would like to try and find a Cruiser in one of the two places...prefer SoCal though because I think the leather in them will be in better shape...not as dry weather. Having a hard time finding one locked out here though!

 

[trojan_knight]

I have 3, 1yr.and 5 and 7 yrs.
We went on a 4-day trip with everything inside the cruiser. I scratched my tint and am worried about my rear defroster and sliding rear window so i am building protectors for them. I also ran a cam lock strap around the anchors for the rear seatbelts to keep some of the upper stuff from ending up in the kids laps. That also includes a small chainsaw 2 shovels and axes, a high-lift and, 100-quart cooler and 2 jerry cans.

 

[yosemitesamiam]

I have 3, 1yr.and 5 and 7 yrs.
We went on a 4-day trip with everything inside the cruiser. I scratched my tint and am worried about my rear defroster and sliding rear window so i am building protectors for them. I also ran a cam lock strap around the anchors for the rear seatbelts to keep some of the upper stuff from ending up in the kids laps. That also includes a small chainsaw 2 shovels and axes, a high-lift and, 100-quart cooler and 2 jerry cans.

Another Sam! Nice!

Ummm, obviously you didn't have the back seats in...that is a whole crapload of crap!

I'm looking forward to this!!!!

 

[CruiserLegolas]

I have 3 kids (12, 10, 7) and we've been camping a couple of times and on long trips a handful of times.

When we go camping, I have to take both 3rd row seats out. I fit everything back there, tents, sleeping bags, table, cooler, etc. The only thing that goes in the roof is the Coleman Roadtrip grill.

When we go on long trips, I take only 1 of the 3rd row seats out. The luggage goes back there. This is a more comfortable setup for the kids and for me (less fighting).

I considered getting a Rocketbox for the roof, but I decided against it because i didn't want to raise the center of gravity. I considered a hitch cargo carrier, but I never got around pricing them.

For me, I was able to fit most everything inside the 80, so I'm pretty happy about that.

 

[yosemitesamiam]

I have three. They are 7 months, 4 and 5. They all fit well across the middle row. I have both 4 and 5 year olds in Britax husky seats and the 7 month in a rear facing infant seat in the middle. Plenty of room in the back for car camping. For the long "family/inlaw" Christmas/holiday trips I have a hitch mounted water proof cargo carrier. Have yet to need more room. The cargo carrier didn't effect the gas mileage.

While not as cool looking as an ARB roof rack the cargo carrier is better for gas mileage and easier to access. BTW the setup was much cheaper, even with a custom made waterproof cargo box. I can still open the upper rear gate with the box on the hitch carrier. But departure angle sucks.....

Where did you buy your hitch mount if you don't mind talking!

Thanks

 

[yosemitesamiam]

Have 3 oldest being 4.5 .... and take alot of trips.. We put 3 across in the middle and take the back seats out and pack all our crap in the back... (when the baby was real little we put my 4 year old in the back row and my wife sat in the back seat.) We dont use a roof rack much and the ice chest goes inside. For camping you would deffinately need the rack.. Also as for outfiting make sure you get some OME heavy springs they really make a difference when loaded.. a little rough empty but worth it.. Any other questions please ask,

Cruisers are great with kids.. and with the 3rd row you can get 7 people (2 being kids in the rear) without too much of a problem....


BTW since you are in Glendora.. check out our SoCal 80's fourm in the group section...

Awesome man!!! Great description on what you have going...and very "right on" for my needs in particular. I appreciate it. And I will be going with the HD OME Springs...too much spring is never a bad thing...especially for longevity sake.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

As said above, you can all fit in a number of ways in the standard seating.
In some vehicles I have removed the rear seat and put in a steel base for the child seats. I do it more to elevate the kids to provide a better view for them than to make more room. But it does provide a lot more space in the truck. It also makes a more solid platform for the kid seats to sit on, so that they don't squish around on rough roads. Any child seat made to sit on foam will sit more firmly on a solid base.
To do it, you need to place a platform at or above the level of the standard seat that has enough strength to hold the child seat. Overkill in strength here is not a sin. Your children will sit here! Place a backrest that will be stronger than the original, and then fit child restraint seats on your invention. Make it fit so that the factory seat belts work correctly.
Eliminating the foam under your kids' seats gives them the secure feeling that they are not sliding around or bouncing up and down, while using the padding area as storage for the stuff that you need to carry for them. You can also raise the seat base to give them a better view and increase storage space under their seats.
I have done this in a number of ways including seats with electric tilt for road sleepers, and some with tray tables for Happy Meals or DVD players. For design ideas PM.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

I didn't see it mentioned, rather than get a roof rack, what about a small trailer? They are way easier to load and unload and roof-racks make your already poor gas milage even worse. I don't think pulling a triler effects my mileage that much.

I have all of the afformentioned gadgets, full roof rack, rocket box, hitch rack and trailer. I prefer the trailer. If we're going light, a rocket box and hitch rack will do, but I generally bring the trailer on all outings any more.

 

[Guyute]

3 kids and two dogs here. We load almost everything into a M416. The thing follows us anywhere.

 

[cvcruiser]

I have three kids. 10years, 2years, and 6 1/2 months. We too will be camping this summer with all three. I actually decided to spend some money on an Adventure Trailer instead of all the mods for my 80. My deal is that our ten year old will probably want to bring a friend so the 3rd row seating will be used. I have a canoe on top of the cruiser, mtn bikes, Thule classic shuttle, and all the camping /kid stuff in the trailer. I get my trailer next week so I'll update you on how it went.

CV

 

[yosemitesamiam]

Awesome guys!! Thanks...lots of ideas, and different ways to go for sure!

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

Easy to do. Mine are all in the middle seat (5 + 5 + 1.9) in boosters / car seats. Rear seats are removed and gear goes in the back behind a cargo barrier. I have a drawer unit that is only on one side (1/2 box) that has tools, parts, etc that can be access even when packed.

Cargo barrier helps with loading as I can put the heavier things on the bottom (cooler) and ligher things on top and still be safe as nothing can enter the passenger compartment.

We have Thule racks and (when needed) a full lenght cargo box. Keeps everything clean, dry and dust free. Also needed for long things like paddles, skis (we have gone winter camping with all 3!). And this setup still allows a canoe to be carried, bikes, etc. Works for us.

Cheers, Hugh

 

[Nay]

I have four kids...oldest is 7...so the third row seats are always up. Gotta have a roof rack (I have the Garvin) and some seriously creative packing. If you want to bring the kitchen sink, then its trailer time.

Edit: I should add some advice to just have the fourth and build your Cruiser with the assumption that you need the third row of seats. Threesomes never work, 'cause somebody is always left out at some point

Nay