Advise for rear seating w/ three kids?

[Root Moose]

Hey guys, sorry for not being around. Been busy with other stuff/vehicles, health issues, etc., etc.

I'm going to get back at working on the XJ(s) this fall and I'm kinda in a contemplative mood about it.

We will likely be trying for a third child next year. Who here takes three kids in the back of their XJ on a regular basis? Is there enough room for them for long road trips? My oldest will be getting out of a booster seat in a few years, the youngest will be going into a booster next year or so, and any new youngun' will be into the overdesigned rear facing seat right away.

I'm worried about the boys being squashed out with the new baby. Is there enough space for three young kids to be back there for 3+ hours at a time?

I'm not sure if I should stick it out with the XJs or sell them off and get something larger (thinking old FJ80/LX450). I have put three across car seats/boosters in the back and it seems really tight but is it comfortable? I dunno. Five and two year olds aren't the most precise talkers.

We haven't been wheeling at all. I kinda like the idea of something with a larger tow capacity for hauling the car to the track once I work my way up to R compounds (couple years out).

I dunno. Conflicted in a way I guess. I love the XJ but...

Whaddya think?

 

[GrimmJeeper]

my 3 kids ride in the back all the time, a 6 year old, a rear facing baby seat (6mo old) and my 8 year old boy. plenty of space. now if it was 2 carseats and 1 older kid then i think they might be a little tight in there but my kids seem to have plenty of room.

 

[Root Moose]

Is your 6yo still in a booster seat?

Where do you put the rear facing? Side or middle?

T!

 

[GrimmJeeper]

6 year old is just big enough to sit on the seat without a booster. rear facer goes in the center with the lap belt thru it.

 

[xj-boonie]

I've got two seats in mine: a rear facing for my 8 month old, and a forward facing for my 4 year old. There isn't much space at all between them, but they are both britax seats - marathon rear facing and regent forward only type. I'd only want to try 3 in back if only one was in a car seat. And 3+ hours in back, I don't think it'd work. It's torture even with only 2 - the XJ rear seat's gotta be the worst for comfort ever - I've had my XJ for 10 years, and had to sit back there for a few long trips.

 

[RyanM]

I remember riding in the back of an old laredo about 12-15 years ago. My cousin and I were about 10, and he had a young brother in a car baby seat in the middle. I remember it being tight, but we survived many 8 hour road trips. I think you don't have anything to worry about for a few years....

 

[RNMedic]

and get one of those 2 screen dvd players that you strap to the headrests. can be a sanity keeper. I'm now working on grandkids and its better than the conversion van with 13 inch tv and vcr. Its got headsets!!!

 

[Beej]

X2 on the DVD players. I took my son, his cousin and one friend on a 16 hour road trip a few years ago. We broke it up over two days, but it went alright. Although twice I had to stop and buy a new Playstation game to keep them occupied. We tried the headphones, but it just made them shout louder. They all fit just fine back there, mind you there was no carseat. Now with another little one about to burst in a few weeks, we've been shopping for *sigh* minivans...

uke:

 

[Root Moose]

Beej, instead of a minivan, check out the Honda Element. About the same functionality as far as I can tell and fugly enough to be interesting.

 

[Root Moose]

Thanks all for the info. I'm still on the fence about the whole thing.

Anyone ever seen a way to fit a different rear seat of lift the seat an inch or two higher for more leg room? I never fold the seat down so I don't need the flat floor.

 

[Beej]

My son LOVES the Element. I'm still not sold on it. When I first saw it I thought it looked just like a plastic abortion. I'm not so sure my mind has changed yet, but I'll definitely look into it...

 

[Root Moose]

The best thing going for it: it's not a mini-van.

When the engine blew in the Subaru back in December we almost bought one. Ended up with a Civic 4 door instead (mpg issues - ~40,000 kms a year).

 

[xj-boonie]

Thanks all for the info. I'm still on the fence about the whole thing.

Anyone ever seen a way to fit a different rear seat of lift the seat an inch or two higher for more leg room? I never fold the seat down so I don't need the flat floor.

Several people have swapped WJ or ZJ seats in. Search in the Mod tech forum.

or check here:
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=927551&highlight=wj+seat

and

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41219&highlight=seat