What to Rent?

AllieK

New member
We're traveling by plane in July & will be renting a car to use at our destination. There will be 4 adults and 2 kids ages 3.5yrs & 1.5yr. We plan on bringing our Maestro for the 3.5yr old and SureRide to RF our 1.5yr old. It looks like the rental company has the following to offer: 1) Dodge Grand Caravan 2) Ford Econoline 3) Ford Explorer 4) Ford Expedition

Which vehicle would be the best for easy car seat installation & safety?
 
ADS

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin
Staff member
Grand Caravan will probably be cheapest and reasonable enough for 6. The third row can be annoying for carseats, especially rear-facing ones. Access with the sliding doors will also be easier. We rent these once a year or so. You might get lucky if they happen to have a Sienna when you pickup!
 

bubbaray

New member
I was checking out the Ford Transit van just this past weekend while killing time waiting for my kid at a party place. It looked pretty nice. 2nd and 3rd rows had 3 seats, 3 headrests, 3 L/S belts and 3 TAs I couldn't see where the LATCH connectors were. There was boatloads of cargo room with 3 rows (IIRC it is available with 4 rows.
 

AllieK

New member
Yeah, I am leaning toward the Caravan or Expedition. I figure if we go that route I will install the car seats in the center and have 2 adults in the 3rd row or possibly just install the FF seat in the 3rd row and our RF seat in the 2nd row.

Does anyone know if rental companies will guarantee which vehicle you will get if you call a day or so in advance? I would like time to review the vehicle manual before we're actually there with tired, hungry kids trying to install car seats!
 

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin
Staff member
Yeah, I am leaning toward the Caravan or Expedition. I figure if we go that route I will install the car seats in the center and have 2 adults in the 3rd row or possibly just install the FF seat in the 3rd row and our RF seat in the 2nd row.

Does anyone know if rental companies will guarantee which vehicle you will get if you call a day or so in advance? I would like time to review the vehicle manual before we're actually there with tired, hungry kids trying to install car seats!

None that I've experienced, but Enterprise will sometimes tell you if one is available that day. Some Toyota dealers will rent Siennas, but usually $$$ and there was a mileage cap when I checked it out a few years back.

http://www.toyota.com/rental/
 

BiffRuffle

New member
My parents have an Expedition, and it has plenty of room. We've fit 2 car seats (1 FF and 1 RF) and 5 adults without issue... it was a little tight, but not uncomfortably so. Of course, in my experience, rental agencies can't guarantee what specific vehicle you'll get until you get there. My wife and I recently rented a truck, and specifically mentioned we would have a RF car seat - the rental company gave us a Ram 1500 with barely enough room for a diaper bag in the back seat.
 

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