Which Rental Vehicle?

knox2350 · Oct 9, 2005

My family and I will be traveling for 2 weeks to Hawaii next Spring. We have 3 children ages then: 7, 5 1/2, and 2 1/2. My question is for those of you having SUV's. I am considering renting one, as the Minivan has so little luggage room behind the seats (we have a totoya Sienna at home). With an SUV, is it possible to fit a under 40lb. carseat, a Britax booster (if middle daughter can hit the 40lb. mark by April), and one 7 year old (using just car seat belt) all in the backseat? Do any of you have a like situation? Or would it be too tight?

Any responses would be appreciated!

UlrikeDG · Oct 9, 2005

It would totally depend on which vehicles. The Honda Odyssey has way more room behind the 3rd row than the Honda Pilot, for example, but you could put 3 seats across the center row of the Pilot (I have my 2.5, 5.5 & 7.5 year olds in the center row of mine) and fold down the 3rd row.

I would definitely bring a booster for the 7 year old, though, because there's no guarantee the seatbelt will fit properly in the rental car. And, if the 5 year old is used to being harnessed, bring that seat to use on the plane & in the car as well. She'll sleep better that way.

Like I said, though, it does depend on which vehicles and which car seats, too. I think just about anything would fit in the 2nd row of my Pilot, but not every SUV has that much hip room.

jen_nah · Oct 11, 2005

I drive a '05 Tahoe and can get 3 car seats across the 3rd row 1 harnessed & 2 boosters no problem. My 2nd row is caption chairs but have put 3 harnessed seat across my neighbors 2nd row bench Tahoe with no problem at all. This leaving the 3rd row to be folded up allowing a lot of cargo area storage.