RV Safety

We are planning a family road trip in an rv this Summer. We have 1 year old who is still rear facing and a 5 year old in a Graco Safe Seat Booster. The RV only has lap belts with the exception of the passenger bucket seat but is located with an airbag- any ideas for the safest set up?
Thanks in advance

There are a few issues that you will need to check out on your RV prior to using it with carseats:

* Most RVs have the rear seats bolted to plywood flooring, not to the actual steel frame of the vehicle. They may not hold well during a car crash.

* All carseats must be installed in a forward facing seat. Often, you will find sideways facing seats or rearfacing seats in RVs which will not work with carseats.

* For a booster (not using a harness), a lap and shoulder belt will be required which would force the boostered child into the front passenger seat. This may leave another adult in a not-so-safe seating position in a lap-only seat in the back. Lap belts aren't a good idea for either kids or adults due to the risk of internal injuries.

* For seats such as at a dinette area, there often isn't sufficient clearance between the table and the seat to protect a child or adult who may be sitting there. If someone is sitting in a dinette seat, make sure the table is removed first so that they don't hit the table during a crash.

Often when dealing with RVs, especially if renting one, it is best to get a pull-behind one or a 5th wheel one as then you can utilize your truck for transporting everyone safely and still have the luxury of your RV when you get to your destination.

In addition to the carseat related issues mentioned in the previous poster's very thorough reply, loose or larger items typically transported in RVs during a trip, or an adult passenger who is riding in the back either completely unrestrained, or not able to buckle up properly due to the lack of a proper lap-shoulder seatbelt, are another safety issue and can become deadly projectiles in a crash. For example, during a crash at 30 mph, a case of canned goods or bottled water weighing 20 lbs. flying off the counter or out of the kitchenette's cupboard would be the equivalent of 600 lbs. slamming into an RV occupant. An improperly restrained passenger who weighs 150 lbs. would become the equivalent of 4,500 lbs. during a crash at 30 mph.

Does anyone know of a document put out by some "authoritative agency" that states all of these RV safety points? My DH is dying to rent an RV for two weeks this summer, but doesn't understand difference in risk between having my daughter ride in an RV instead of in a regular vehicle. I'm really tired of being accused of "reading make-believe on the internet".

Neatfreak said:

Does anyone know of a document put out by some "authoritative agency" that states all of these RV safety points?

Click to expand...

The manual? If the manual does not give specific instructions on carseat/booster installation, then it's not permissible. If it only shows/explains installation in the front seat, then that's the only permissible location.

Otherwise, I'm not aware of any such document, but you can try Googling & someday soonish we'll have an article about this in the designated subforum here published by a CPST. Is it not enough for your husband to know that it is being researched & written by a CPST? & that the only way for such status to be added to one's screen name here is if they're on the SafeKids Worldwide CPST listing, the only certifying body in the US?