We are selling our RV next weekend to a young family with 2 children so once again I was looking for a solution for them. Our desire was to drive straight through (10 hours) as effectively, safely and cost effective as possible. Although it is generally recommended that children do not ride in the front seat of passenger vehicles, while inspecting your individual RV, you may find that the front passenger seat provides the safest option for your child and his or her car seat. Are there seat belts available on the couch and if so what are they connected to? A rear-facing car seat should be on forward-facing vehicle seat so the child can take advantage of the safety benefits of being rear facing. These types of trailers have similar amenities to motorized RVs and can range from lightweight to heavy between 1,100 to 12,000 lbs, and measuring at 10 to 40 feet. It might be interesting to do a crash test experiment with dummies in an RV and see exactly how much more protection (compared to no car seat) one has in some non-ideal circumstances. Class B RVs weigh anywhere between 4,000 to 9,000 lbs and are sized between the dimensions of 17 to 23 feet. We are looking at buying a Class C but have a 6 year old and 3 year old. I didnt know this would be an issue. Because we have 2 children, placing 1 in the front seat is no option. By Amie Durocher, Creative Director at Safe Ride 4 Kids and certified CPS Tech since 2004. I agree to RVshare's privacy policy. Or, in a worst-case scenario, that child seat safety restraints (seatbelt anchors & tether anchors fastened to vehicle structure, not wood seating, etc) is not required by law in forward-facing configuration. As for the cushions its hard to say. Winnebagos lineup includes many different options depending on the needs of your family. Inthis articleabout tips for RVing with a baby, Alyssa notes that it is important to make sure there is enough room for the car seat to be buckled in safely and face the right direction. We have a Sunseeker 3270s. The Best Car Seats (Safest) For Your Child At Each Age Range | Extra Information For Child Bike Seats & Your Pet, What Are The Best Infant Car Seat Covers? Yes, we all got lucky. Backup camera/side view cameras with 3-way monitor. People reason that bigger vehicles tend to withstand crash forces better, and this may lull some RVers into a false sense of security. Traveling in a Class A RV Class A RVs are big bus-like motorhomes weighing anywhere from 17,000 pounds to over 40,000 pounds. This is not ideal. Many child safety seats require a shoulder harness in addition to a lap belt, and in many RVs only the drivers and immediate passenger seat provide this level of restraint. Some of the most common causes of RV crashes are inexperienced drivers states dont require special training or permits to drive an RV and senior drivers 10 percent of RV drivers are more than 55 years old who may have declining eye sight and slower reflexes. Its important to know the type of RV youll be driving, (or picking up, if youre doing so), as well as the correct car seats and how they fit into the appropriate RV. Can you get a good install with the cushions or do you get a better car seat install without the cushions? Safe Ride 4 Kids is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I have a 3 and a 5 year old and am looking into getting a class C RV. Classic Premium Camping Package (Every Classic model includes this package) EZ Ryde premium Suspension System (N/A Chevy) Undermount stainless steel 1.3 cu. He is supposed to be rear facing.. Where is the safest place to put him? But bigger is not necessarily safer with RVs. Just looking for a bit more information so we know what the best option is moving forward. Latest second hand 5 berth motorhomes for sale 15 60,499 Rimor Evo 69 2.0 2022 | Motorhome | Fixed single beds 2022 (22 reg) | 5 berth | End bedroom | 20,000 miles | Automatic | 2L | 5 belted seats | L:7308 x W:2300 x H:2845 This gently owned Plateau-TS is top-of-the-line Class B RV from the top recreational vehicle maker for most of the last decade and is perfect for two travelers. There is serious injury risk to all the passengers. Will they ticket you if you get pulled over? Were wondering about the rules for using child seats in an RV, is thereanything else we need to know thats different than driving in our car? Class A are the largest type and look similar to buses. Jeremy lives in Minnesota with his wife and three dogs, and is active blogging and on YouTube covering RV and dog related topics at www.RVDogVentures.com. Id think dismantle the dinette down to a bed with no cushions, but Im not sure. If you're traveling in an RV with your children, the best option is to put the car seat in the passenger seat. For most trailers and motorhomes, there are limited options when it comes to seating that can accommodate child restraints. in this thread in this sub-forum in the entire site. For this reason, its important to make sure that your kids stay seated while the RV is in motion. Advertisement. They are between 15,000 and 30,000 pounds and often have living areas that extend out when parked. The Manufacturers Alliance for Child Passenger Safety (MACPS) stated that it recommends that families "choose a non-motorized tow-able RV, so that children can be restrained properly in the passenger vehicle that is towing the RV." (You can read the entire statement here .) The key to making the most out of your RV trip with your baby is planning. Hard to say for sure but they could. We would really like the Class C lifestyle, but a travel trailer may be better for the next couple of years. Often the rear compartment is built on a wood or aluminum frame. Does it have a lap-shoulder belt? Traveling with Children in an RV There are four main types of RV types: Class A, B, and C motorhomes and travel trailers. A dinette area provides a table and seating space typically used for eating . Class B is more like a built-out conventional van. Its good to know that you should try to have a towable RV so the children can ride properly in the towing vehicle. There are many things to be aware of when youre taking the family in an RV whatever the class of the RV may be. This is an exciting journey for children and the family to be involved in, and there are some car seat safety tips youll need to know before taking the road. and that the van qualified for the same requirements as a bus and the lap belts were satisfactory. Make a law and the allow manufacturers to just place the belts basically for decoration!! Did I understand that correctly? I was looking for booster seat options in an RV but now am second guessing our plan. According to court records, Michael Johnson . Many seat belts found in RVs are located on rear-facing or sideways bench seats, which is a no-go for the attaching of child car seats. RVs are no exception to this law. While you may not know what to consider right away, your car seat style should influence the types of seats you look for in an RV. There are three separate types of motorized RV classes. How To Choose A Car Seat For Your Child | Our Car Seat Buying Guide & Recommendations, Baby Car Seat Laws For Each State In The USA | Your Complete Guide. RV Rentals Aurora ColoradoRV Rentals Burbank CaliforniaRV Rentals Minneapolis MinnesotaRV Rentals in AlabamaRV Rental OhioRV Rentals Great Falls MontanaRV Rental Naperville ILRV Rental MarylandRV Rentals Goodyear ArizonaRV Rental South CarolinaRV Rentals near RV Haven Park College StationRV Rentals near Mission RV Park RedlandsRV Rentals near Harmony RV Park and Campground WeatherfordRV Rentals near Rockwell RV Park Oklahoma CityRV Rentals near Desertaire Adult RV Park SurpriseRV Rental CaliforniaRV Rental Bronx NYRV Rentals Baltimore MarylandRV Rental Tempe AZRV Rental OhioRV Rental Brooklyn NYRV Rental IndianaRV Rentals KentuckyRV Rental South CarolinaRV Rental Tampa FL, RVs are a wonderful way to see new places and, The best part of an RV road trip is that, One of the best things about camping is that your. Booster seats cannot be used with a lap-only belt. Disadvantage is that my youngest will then face rearward and have no eyecontact with the rest of the family, so my idea was to but him on the rearfacing seat behind the driver seat and the 2 older ones forward facing on the opposite side of the table. Im researching the proper child restraint in a transit conversion camper van with a swivel passenger seat for a four-year-old. He is also a motorized RV owner and he has more than one child who rides in the RV while traveling as a family. It also depends on how close the seat is to the dashboard. How thick are they? BTW, the seats have changed since I was a kid. If I understand your idea, you are describing a vehicle seat that is facing to the rear and a rear facing child restraint. If it does enter the middle seating position area, there is no way to safely install a rear-facing car seat here. We just dont know because it was not designed or tested that way. The 8 year old has to be in a car seat in Quebec, but not in Ontario (correct?). Is my story correct? Hi Jennifer, Ideally when you sit a child in the RV using a child restraint, the child needs to be in a forward facing seat, meaning the seat or couch as the case may be needs to be facing toward the windshield. The face value appeal is obvious. From a child passenger safety perspective, the question falls to, are these kids using car seats? So I only let the grandchildren come with us and sit in the lap belt seats when we are just around town vs on the highway. We dont expect you to, which is why weve covered them for you below. One point in some articles appears illogical. Support Small Family Business | Free 2-4 Day Shipping on Feature Products in USA. Check the driving compartment for vehicle seats appropriate for installing a car seat or booster. Weve been stressing out how to do this with our kids, and we have about 3 seats we could use currently! Because of this and design features that may include seams in the sides for things like galley slide-outs, anRVs size may not translate to superior structural soundness.In addition, although seat belts are sometimes present in the living areas, the anchorages for these are not required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208. ft. 12V refrigerator. She died. You do want to make sure whatever seat belt is available is anchored to the vehicle and not just say the wooden table bench. Hi Reimar, Placing a rear-facing car seat on a rear-facing vehicle seat means the child would be facing the front of the vehicle. This way your children are in their car seats in this vehicle instead of in the RV. Keep up the good work. And some rear seat belts in RVs are not even bolted to to the metal frame of the vehicle. From 9 Kilograms to 18 Kilograms - 'Group 1' - A baby seat which can be rear or forward facing, using a safety shield or harness. You stated the manual says a front-facing car seat can be installed but is not recommended. Hi Jamie, We are not familiar with all makes and models of RVs. So I cant any more specific. $26000. Some of those that do have rear occupant seat belts have at best lap-only belts. Free 2-4 Day Shipping on Feature Products in USA, Car Seat Best Practices & 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test, What does your state law say about car seats? Do I leave the car seat on top of the dinette cushions and have a cushion behind the car seat? Whatever type of RV you rent or buy, remember driving a RV is a lot different than your passenger car. Laws vary from state to state. Hi, great forum. Sure, its great that the kiddos can spread out and get comfortable while Mom or Dad are tooling down the road, but what safety precautions should you take into account for the kids while riding in a motorhome? Dont worry, you have the right idea. (and, just to point out, installing a rear-facing car seat in a rear-facing vehicle seat would put that child Forward Facing which would be very dangerous). Required fields are marked *. By entering your email, you are opting in to receive future information from Winnebago Industries. They are quite similar to camping and provide an open-air feel, similar to a tent. For example: * Class A RV with a Bench Seat not bolted to the floor Passenger seats are normally not recommended for children under the age of 13, however, in some states, this can be overruled as long as the airbag is deactivated. Child safety seats should generally not be used in a side-facing seat or any seat that may turn or swivel. Car seats need to be placed on a forward-facing vehicle seat. There are many rules for car seat safety for children in moving vehicles. We just rented a Mercedes Sprinter RV for touring NZ. They are measured between 20 to 30 feet and weigh between 10,000 to 13,000lbs. These seats provide no room for rear-facing seat installation, with no safe tether for these types of car seats. Some RVs do not have an adequate number of seat belts for the number of occupants. Our children are 6.5 and 2.5, and are currently in a belt-positioning booster and a rear-facing car seat, respectively. Q: We plan to rent a motorhome and we have three kids, two of child safety seatage. With 6.5 foot/2 meter ceilings and walk through convenience even tall campers can enjoy the compact RV. Centrifugal first e will cause all vehicle occupants and objects to be propelled forward in a frontal crash. If the seat belts are not structurally sound and options Good or Best or even OK above are not really options for you. Thanks again! Privacy Policy The name stems from the front of the trailer, which extends over the truck bed. The seating options look like this, driver and passenger seats, and a bench seat in the very back of the 20 footer van that turns into a bed. I cannot believe I survived the following when I was younger: * Rode in the front seat while I was still in elementary school (in fact on mountain roads it actually reduced by motion sickness) and my height was far less than 57 inches back then when I did it. If there is a structurally sound lap-shoulder belt or structurally sound lap-only belt and a tether anchor in a forward-facing vehicle seat with a high back, the RideSafer should work. As always read the fitting instructions. Heated remote exterior mirrors. Parking and maneuvering fifth wheels can be a challenge. As with most things, the answer to if it will work for you is, it depends. Im also struggling to understand why its discouraged (I realize its not ideal) to have a car seat facing to the rear, in the rear facing seat with proper seat belts. Class A RVs come with many extra amenities that you wouldnt normally attribute to an RV, and due to this fact can be on the higher end of the price range. Read more, Car Safety Hub is reader-supported. The Type of RV You Have Matters Class B & C motorhomes are built on the base of a commercial-type truck or van chassis with the same front driver's area, or cockpit, so these types of motorhomes adhere to the same type of safety requirements that typical trucks and vans must adhere to, at least in the driver's area. Is this correct? I dont know the specific layout of your RV so I cant tell you a spot. The caution about never rear facing installation of child seats makes no sense.. As long as there are frame mounted the theta and catches, either is fine. Wanting to take our 18 month old in a Class C. Side seating on a sofa seems like a bad idea bc the car seat wasnt meant for sideways. And manufacturer build them on a van or truck chassis. Petoskey 5th wheel tailgate. Are there RVs with seats in the back with shoulder belts? What kind of seatbelts are included? Can you please tell me the safest place to put these kids? We just signed the paperwork for a Class C RV (Coachman Freelander Q21B) and we have a nine month old and a six-year-old. Other motorhomes we've looked at have made no mention. Do you have any opinion on converted school buses with van seating installed for kids? We chose to order the Solis with the sofa bed in the back versus the murphy bed because we needed the two extra seatbelts that particular model provided. Graco Atlas 65 2-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat in Glacier and the Graco tranzitions 3 in 1 harness booster seat. The RV (recreational vehicle, if you dont know already), is a great way to travel, suiting a range of budgets and getting the entire family in touch with surroundings they may never have experienced. Fitting seats on the aisle seat versus the window seat. I am new to this site and want to thank you for the great work you are doing. Petoskey Keystone Fuzion TOY HAULER . There is no rear occupant crash testing required for Class A RVs. Installing Rear Facing Car Seat in RV with Kids RVing With A Baby: Infant Car Seat in RV Car Seat in RV with Kids: How to install car seat in motorhome 9 Year Old RV Car Seat 7 Year Old RV Car Seat 5 Year Old Car Seat in RV 2 Year Old Carseat in RV 5 Month Old Car Seat in RV (Structurally sound means the seat belt is bolted to the metal frame of the RV, has a at least 6,000 lb system strength and an appropriate tether anchor strength, says RideSafer manufacturer.) Even with all of the advantages of RV travel with kids, its important to keep safety in mind. needs in order to properly install a car seat. However, bigger isnt actually safer when it comes toRVs. We understand RVs are tough category of vehicle to transport a family with kids in car seats in. For example, while traveling in a Winnebago Forza, Heath and Alyssa Padgett used the anchors near the front-facing dinette seating area to secure their babys car seat. Like many others, we are planning on renting a Class C RV this summer to drive from the west coast of the US to the midwest to visit family. And 26 states have seat belt requirements based on the age of the child. Facts To Know About Car Seats. Backless Or High Back Booster Car Seats | Which One To Buy? #ThorMotorCoach #TMCHowToFor more visit ThorMotorCoach.comAbout Thor Motor CoachThor Motor Coach (TMC) is the only Made to Fit motorhome brand in North Amer. Safe RV Travel with Children Safe RV road trips begin by buckling seat belts, using car seats Traveling across the country in a recreational vehicle (RV) can be exciting for kids of all ages. In addition, although seat belts are sometimes present in the living areas, the anchorages for these are not required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208.