Long road trip...opinions on seating positions??

We are leaving for a loooooong road trip on Saturday morning. We are driving a total of about 5200 miles! We are going from Oregon to Denver, CO to Houston, TX to Scottsdale, AZ to DisneyLand and then back home.

We will be taking our MDX and have to put one person in the third row with the other side folded down for cargo room. I have a tall 7 year old, 70lb. daughter who will be in a Parkway. I have a 45lb. 3 year old who will be in a Boulevard, and a 20 month old who will be in a Marathon rf'ing. My 30 year old brother is also going with us so we will have 3 adults.

My current plan is to put the 3 year old in the third row (it has top tethers) and put the rf'ing Marathon in the center with my 7 year old outboard. This will leave an outboard spot for whichever adult is not up front and I think it is more comfortable to sit next to a rf'ing seat than a ff'ing seat.

There are side curtain airbags for all 3 rows.

Does anyone have any input on whether this would be the best way to go or not?

I am not good at thinking outside the box and seeing any safety advantage to a boostered vs ff harnessed sitting in the third row.

The only reason I am planning on putting the ff harnessed child in the third row is so I can put the rf'ing seat off to the side to allow more adult passenger room and it is only possible with a booster on the other side.

Please think aloud with me if you will....I want to make sure I am not missing anything.

I would do exactly what you described. The thought of a 5200 mile road trip with a 20 month old and a 3 year old next to each other gives me a headache.

I had my 2 next to each other for a drive this weekend since we needed someone in the backseat with them, and Monday they were bugging each other so I moved DD2 back outboard. My 3 year old goes "Mom, excuse baby's carseat over here." I asked her why and she said "So I can poke her!"

I'd be concerned about the child in the third row being next to the cargo.

I know, I've had to do this before myself, and it sucks if it's the only option, but anything you can do to minimize or avoid that... especially for a long trip. I'd at least be tying things down with cargo straps.

Anna you make a good point! Keeping the younger ones apart would be nice.

Debbie the only thing that will be in the cargo area is one suitcase and a BOB jogging stroller. I will use ratcheting cargo straps to anchor these down. But I agree that it sucks when its your only option and you have to have a bunch of little stuff back there with a kid.:thumbsdown:

thefosters.2 said:

Debbie the only thing that will be in the cargo area is one suitcase and a BOB jogging stroller. I will use ratcheting cargo straps to anchor these down. But I agree that it sucks when its your only option and you have to have a bunch of little stuff back there with a kid.:thumbsdown:

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That's great - I figured you'd already thought about it, but I wanted to make sure because I know how hectic things can get when you're planning a long trip!

Not only would I do just as you described (and YAY for the cargo straps that ratchet!!), but I'd purposefully sit in the 2nd row with the kids myself... that way it's Mommy tending the kids, unless the idea of their uncle (who obviously would be so much fun as it's NOT a parent and can spoil them rotten) is more appealing.

I'd make sure to have the diaper bag under the baby's seat and then a big bag full of new small toys and fun stuff for the other two kids sitting in front of the 7yr old.

In the front, see if you can fit a cooler and tie IT down... so that you can store drinks and snacks that can then be passed back to you and then to the kids.

I think what you described will work great!!!

By the way I pm'd you.