car seat storage...

[BIGdaddy]

In a suv like my Jeep, or a Land cruiser, etc. my carseats stay in the same spot, because where we sit doesn't become where we sleep, as we have always had a RTT(maggiolina) or a ground tent.

In considering something like a westy, astro (tiger?) or other van-based camper, I am wondering firstly what I can do to fit three carseats, and then once at camp, I'm wondering what y'all do with the carseats since they likely need to be removed to utilize the fold down bed that the bench seat becomes.

 

[flyingwil]

Not knowing from experience, but if I were in those shoes, I would just be removing the car seats when setting up camp. I would retrofit a LATCH system into the works. I find that the LATCH system works well in the KJ, however the Tacoma does not have the LATCH, and it is a pain to remove the car seat when needed, and that's only one car seat. Once removed, there is airline seat covers that are waterproof that could cover them. Plus on the other side of things the car seat can be used around the campfire too.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Not knowing from experience, but if I were in those shoes, I would just be removing the car seats when setting up camp. I would retrofit a LATCH system into the works. I find that the LATCH system works well in the KJ, however the Tacoma does not have the LATCH, and it is a pain to remove the car seat when needed, and that's only one car seat. Once removed, there is airline seat covers that are waterproof that could cover them. Plus on the other side of things the car seat can be used around the campfire too.

So maybe outside under an awning or ez-up with a waterproof cover, then?

That's a pretty simple solution. I wonder if I'd having any issues with animals chewing on the seats from all the ground in crackers and such.

 

[shortbus4x4]

So maybe outside under an awning or ez-up with a waterproof cover, then?

That's a pretty simple solution. I wonder if I'd having any issues with animals chewing on the seats from all the ground in crackers and such.

More than likely you will have critters snacking on your car seats if left outside.:sombrero: If you have only one or two car seats you could put them in the front seats for temporary storage at night. Putting them on the roof might keep a few of the critters away but not the determined or big ones. I only have one left in a car seat right now and can hardly wait until she no longer needs it. Having a latch system makes installing car seats much easier but it is still a pain to do correctly. My wife and I hated moving car seats so much we would usually have one for each of our cars so we could move the kid instead of the seat.

 

[BIGdaddy]

More than likely you will have critters snacking on your car seats if left outside.:sombrero: If you have only one or two car seats you could put them in the front seats for temporary storage at night. Putting them on the roof might keep a few of the critters away but not the determined or big ones. I only have one left in a car seat right now and can hardly wait until she no longer needs it. Having a latch system makes installing car seats much easier but it is still a pain to do correctly. My wife and I hated moving car seats so much we would usually have one for each of our cars so we could move the kid instead of the seat.

yeah, I thought about that, too. One could turn the carseat upside-down and fill the footwells of the driver and passenger seats, and still be under one of those hammock style beds that westy owners use for front sleeping quarters.

That takes care of two of our carseats...we'd just have to find a spot for the third...maybe just on the roof, as you say. lashed in a waterproof bag of some sort.

 

[shortbus4x4]

Oh three car seats. That sucks, not that you have three little ones but that they are all in car seats at the same time. I was there at one point in time too. Three car seats take up an awful lot of room. I remember when I was a kid just riding in the back of a truck or car, then we had to start wearing seat belts.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Oh three car seats. That sucks, not that you have three little ones but that they are all in car seats at the same time. I was there at one point in time too. Three car seats take up an awful lot of room. I remember when I was a kid just riding in the back of a truck or car, then we had to start wearing seat belts.

yeah, it's a bit tricky, expecially in my cherokee. But they do in fact, fit. Need to have rig that is at least 55" wide, just for your info. haha! The Jeep cherokee is exactly 55" wide. Gives me a good reference when I've got the tape measure out in my dad's westfalia.

Two of them, Addy(5.5) and Kayla(4) are in those pink Cosco 5point boosters and could probably be in "seat bottom" only, type setups, but we're firm believers in keeping them in 5 points as long as possible. That model is actually a fairly svelt/slim design.

Sydney(18mos), our youngest, (yes, three girls..haha. they're fun) is the only one in the truly mongo convertable forward facing seat. That's the one I'd proably put outside, due to its overall mass.

Maybe I could use something like a trasheroo for that one. Just put it in an oversized heavy-mil trashbag and throw it in there.

 

[shortbus4x4]

I had three in car seats in a 1990 Cherokee. When number four came along we got a 95 Disco but by then the oldest could ride in the back in the jump seat. You must have a trailer when you go camping to haul all the accessories that go along with little kids.

 

[BIGdaddy]

You must have a trailer when you go camping to haul all the accessories that go along with little kids.

We actually do ok with a roof top box and completely loading up the floorboards below their feet and the rear cargo area. We have a LARGE rocket box from Yakima that takes our chairs, tent, privvy shelter, toys and a clothes bag.

The back is mostly our kitchen, and water in jerry cans is stored @ their feet.

Boy-0-Boy is it tight, but it actually has worked pretty durned well. I'm definitely realistic about the 2-3 day limit that amount of space puts on our travels, both in frayed nerves and lmited supplies.

 

[BIGdaddy]

When number four came along we got a 95 Disco but by then the oldest could ride in the back in the jump seat..

See that's the alternative to a camper van:

7 seater rig like a Disco or Fj80's are wide enough to carry our 3 in the middle row and have good storage.

We'd then throw our Yak-box up top for watertight, light bulky stuff like we do now...

And then pickup a OZtent RV5 and just lash it next to our Yak-box. I think I could be into that setup for right around $10k, which is what I'm finding nice westies for.

When the kids outgrow the middle row, I can as you did, and then resign myself to a towed trailer for supplies or maybe even a offroad popup.

 

[shortbus4x4]

I would go the FJ80 route. The Disco was nice but getting parts on short notice and cheaply can be hard and it had electrical problems. The nice thing about a Disco or FJ80 is you can still do some exploring on 4x4 roads that you couldn't with a westy. Unless you found a 4x4 westy in which case I would be very jealous.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I would go the FJ80 route. The Disco was nice but getting parts on short notice and cheaply can be hard and it had electrical problems. The nice thing about a Disco or FJ80 is you can still do some exploring on 4x4 roads that you couldn't with a westy. Unless you found a 4x4 westy in which case I would be very jealous.

syncro westy vanagon = $$$


very droolworthy, though, I agree.

 

[flyingwil]

D'oh... forgot all about the the food crumbs! I should have had my coffee before posting that. I guess it would be playing Tetris with them in the front as mentioned.

 

[SilverBullet]

You mentioned you have a roof top box, does that gear get unpacked to sleep? If it does, maybe your largest kid can get a folding booster seat and store it up there. Then the other two in the front floor.

My oldest of 3 has a booster which will use a 5 point if desired, but it folds in half. It is a great setup for traveling and the last time we flew, the airline gave us a free bag since the chair folded smaller than some peoples idea of a carry on.

 

[BIGdaddy]

You mentioned you have a roof top box, does that gear get unpacked to sleep? If it does, maybe your largest kid can get a folding booster seat and store it up there. Then the other two in the front floor.
My oldest of 3 has a booster which will use a 5 point if desired, but it folds in half. It is a great setup for traveling and the last time we flew, the airline gave us a free bag since the chair folded smaller than some peoples idea of a carry on.

THAT is a great idea! And yes, it carries things like camp chairs, porta-privvy tent, etc, so it would in fact be mostly empty when in camp. Breaking down camp would simply mean a transfer of gear up there.