Child seats in a RV - iRV2 Forums Frequently, the only forward facing seatbelt in the cabin is at a table. MOTURIS & CAMPING WORLD RV do provide child seats at $39 per rental plus tax. Hi Tiffiani, I recommend you calling to chat with Greg about the box build. Trying to find which Brand, Class, floorplan, etc has seats bolted to the frame/chassis with shoulder belts is a nightmare online. Any type of RV (Class A, B, C, C+, or non-motorized tow-able RV's) are high-profile vehicles, so they are restricted during high wind conditions and carry significant risks when making sharp turns and backing. One benefit is we created a barrier between the front and the back so projectiles from inside the vehicle/RV are minimized. The impact of a frontal or rear crash may have different crash dynamics on a car seat sitting sideways than a side impact does on a car seat facing the front. I was right in the midst of securing an RV with a deposit to secure specific dates until I started looking at little closer at the RV industry safety standards for children. It is entirely possible to fit 3 point harnesses in the back of most vans. All We bought a Class B 2011 with 2 forward facing buckets with lap belts behind the driver and passenger buckets and bench in the back with 3 lap belts. Start by reading my Car Seats in RVs: Safety Considerations post! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. shop4seats.com. (Last Updated On: June 12, 2022) Families going on long trips with small children will often consider a class of vehicle called a Recreational Vehicle or RV for transport, rather than dealing with a cramped smaller car and hotels along the way. Sorry for the long text. In your article you mention that you installed a rear-facing child seat on the side-facing bench. While I didnt love having the two youngest children on a side-facing RV bench, the CPSTs pointed out that the 5-point harness seats, especially the infant bucket seat, are side impact tested. These trailers are spacious and may include slideouts for more interior space. Hi Kasey, It is true that it is recommended to not have your child in the car seat for extended periods of time. Thanks! That means no side seats or seats facing the back of the RV. Do you have any suggestions as to what type of RV to rent and what questions to specifically as these rental companies? Safe fitting of child seats to a motorhome | Motorhome Facts Forum In a sense, yes, we all were lucky that we survived a childhood riding in cars the way many of us adults did. I was also going a bit crazy trying to figure out how to make this as safe as possible, and reading your solutions has helped quite a bit. The CPST pointed out that the vest may actually be even safer than the 5-point harness car seat in this case. Then the older ones could have an eye on my youngest one and I hope all regulations would then be met.. Is this correct? Is the seat belt on the dinette rated for safety? Your email address will not be published. Did I understand that correctly? You clearly didnt comprehend what Taylor said. Will the seat fit in this space? This type of belt is unsuitable for children riding in boosters or older children and teens who pass the five-step test. Ive always been told people should go to the manufacturer for that type of retrofitting. If your baby uses a capsule, you'll want to bring the capsule with you. In addition, these seat belts are generally lap belts only. That left us with one more forward-facing car seat without an anchor point (the one for our 5 year old). RVs are also bigger and move slower which is also safer for children and it takes a lot more force to turn one over as they are heavier. I did find this car seat that technically has an 85 lb weight limit. Safe Ride 4 Kids is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Though it converts to a booster (and feels like one), we havent switched to the booster setting yet (and shes not bothered by the 5-point harness). And 26 states have seat belt requirements based on the age of the child. RV Position: forward-facing dinette seat with built-in anchor point. Our desire was to drive straight through (10 hours) as effectively, safely and cost effective as possible. Weve owned the small size vest for 6 years, and have taken it on many domestic and international trips. She died. That leads me to believe MB is not OK with installing a rear-facing car seat, which means if you do move forward installing one there, you would be taking on the liability. Several states require RVers, both the driver and passengers, to be buckled up no matter where they're sitting. For example: * Class A RV with a Bench Seat not bolted to the floor Please feel free to take a look. In other words, if tyou can loop the EATAL around a sturdy place (e.g., a metal bar thats also bolted to metal so it is structurally sound, perhaps on the bottom of the front captains chair), then you can create your own anchor point. I've been following a thread on this site where a number of worrying comments have been made regarding the safe fitting of child seats to a motorhome. Much like all the other interior items that become projectiles in a crash. My guess is you could I dont see why not. * Was out of a booster seat long before I was in middle school. For RV travel, this means the following:whena seat is not installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions on a forward facing vehicle seat that has properly anchored seat belts it is de facto illegal to transport your child in the vehicle. RV camping is a great way for families to get away, enjoy the outdoors with the convenience of your own self-contained space. in this thread in this sub-forum in the entire site. If you have more than one child in the vehicle, youd be left with making tough decisions, so the best option is to travel in another vehicle. Any RV forward facing car seats needs to use a top tether to anchor the top of the seat so it doesnt fly forward. The inside of an RV has everything from cabinets, food, and appliances to the kitchen sink. Hi Hollie, There should be information about tether locations in the Mercedes Sprinter owners manual. The cushion was preventing a totally tight tether, however. Trouble with motion sickness, click here for some tips to ease your discomfort. Families going on long trips with small children will often consider a class of vehicle called a Recreational Vehicle or RV for transport, rather than dealing with a cramped smaller car and hotels along the way. While they may appear secure and tight, in the event of a crash, those seat belts could easily completely detach from their anchorage. Centrifugal first e will cause all vehicle occupants and objects to be propelled forward in a frontal crash. A rear-facing car seat should be on forward-facing vehicle seat so the child can take advantage of the safety benefits of being rear facing. Our main reason to renting and RV was to give her some freedom of movement and not have to stop every few hours for her to play and eat. You could purchase ford transit bench seats or sprinter bench seats and have them bolted to the frame of the bus. We had a pretty good idea at this point, and settled on the following: While our seats and configurations definitely err on the conservative side for restraining our children to the highest possible level, its always wise to check seat belt and RV car seat laws in your state. Rules for Using Child Seats in an RV - RVing Today Graco Atlas 65 2-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat in Glacier and the Graco tranzitions 3 in 1 harness booster seat. We are expecting anytime now. Im so happy to hear it was helpful! Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Question: Can you put car seats in a motorhome? Roborock Q5+ Robot Vacuum Also Great. There are seat belts in the two side-facing chairs behind the driver and passenger seats. RVs allow a certain amount of freedom in destinations, are potentially more comfortable than a car, and make packing easy. And, the seat has to be forward facing. and that the van qualified for the same requirements as a bus and the lap belts were satisfactory. Did you make it to the end? Description Comments For most trailers and motorhomes, there are limited options when it comes to seating that can accommodate child restraints. It needs to go over a solid seat back. That all seemed fairly straightforward when figuring out how to RV with car seats. We just dont know because it was not designed or tested that way. This is certainly not ideal. So is the dinette the right place? You stated the manual says a front-facing car seat can be installed but is not recommended. We have read these articles and blogs with great interest because we are considering taking small grandchildren on a trip. Car seats need to be placed on a forward-facing vehicle seat. Everything You Need to Know About RV Seats-Must Read But my daughter turns two in 2 weeks, and her seat cant fit rear facing in that bench because of the recline angle. He is supposed to be rear facing.. Where is the safest place to put him? From 15 Kilograms to 25 Kilograms - 'Group 2' - A child seat (a high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) which can be rear or forward facing, using a safety shield or harness. You cannot use a booster seat with a lap-only seat belt if that is all that is available. Can she ride up front?!? Hi, great forum. We havent had any issues with this the seats we use have worked fine with the RV buckles. For all these reasons and more (such as projectile potential), Even after-market hardware installation should be certified by an agency within the Ministry of Transportation of any given province or state. Our research made us feel comfortable that if we could meet those safety requirements and follow all of our additional precautions, that we could install carseats in a RV to travel safely with kids. With all due respect this is a video that scares me to death. As for the cushions its hard to say. BTW, the seats have changed since I was a kid. How do I find out if there are tether hooks in this RV. This is because with the 5-point harness, the seat/belt are then bearing the load of not only the child (who was just over the weight limit), but also the heavy car seat. needed to have some sort of upper body restraint, and since the back only had lap belts, we knew we couldnt use a booster. The final piece was nailing down the official configuration. * Class A V in a Rear Facing Seat. This sounds especially important if they are very young and you dont want them to hurt themselves accidentally in a RV. Still, know that this is not something that has been specifically crash tested. 4. The Dyrt Pro gives you special access to trip planning, maps showing free camping, campground discounts, and offline access. Would love to see some pics. RVs are no exception to this law. Get exclusive premium content! As a booster seat the harness straps are removed and the child sits in the seat with a lap-shoulder belt over the child and seat. We took the couch out from behind the drivers seat, bought a 2 seater van bench, bolted it to the frame of the RV, and have 2 forward facing car seats for our 2 young kids. Youll want to look up the law for RV travel specifically for your state and the states youll be traveling to. Is there a list somewhere of the RV models with tether hooks? You are welcome to link to Safe Ride 4 Kids or share on social media. Hi Marijn! Parking and maneuvering fifth wheels can be a challenge. The Ask an Expert section is currently for members to our online community. So glad I found your blog, and love your content! As a harness seat it can be installed with a lap-only seat belt (or lap-shoulder or LATCH) and the child is restrained with the harness straps of the seat up to the height/weight specification. Even if a car seat is installed in a rear or side facing seat, it will still provide additional protection (although slightly less than in an ideally configured seating configuration) for the child than if no car seat is used. Fill in your Billing Details and create an account password. We just signed the paperwork for a Class C RV (Coachman Freelander Q21B) and we have a nine month old and a six-year-old. However, the RV car seat laws vary from state to state and this may not be legal everywhere. Since our 3rd kiddo is still well under the weight limit of the large vest (which the EATAL is tested with), and is also well under the weight limit of the car seat itself, we felt okay about anchoring with the EATAL. If you do plan to be traveling with children in RVs, here are some tips: Unrestrained occupants are a danger to other passengers. The answer is YES it is compulsory to wear a seat belt at the back of the motorhome. Your email address will not be published. Im having trouble finding any answers or suggestions for safe cargo van restraint for kiddos. If we got pulled over and its not legal do we get a ticket or what is the recourse? Whew! * Riding in cars with lap belts only in the back (also common back then). If there is no passenger airbag, it might also be suitable for a rear facing car seat. These cookies do not store any personal information. And while she is tall, she has a shorter torso, so still fits in it fine height-wise. There is no rear occupant crash testing required for Class A RVs. Then I went to a van customized shop who said they could not retrofit seat belts without going through safety testing. So I have been looking for a solution because our RV only has lap-belts (facing forward of sightways) and no anchor point or tether connection. Ideally, you would always want your back facing an impending crash., not your front. Installing Rear Facing Car Seat in RV with Kids, Car Seat in RV with Kids: How to install car seat in motorhome, Energy Absorbing Tether Anchor Loop (EATAL), seat belt and RV car seat laws in your state, 4 Kids, 43 Countries, 20 Must Have Travel Essentials, Sleeping in an RV with Kids: Tips for RV Sleep | Local Passport Family, Car Seats in RVs: Safety Considerations | Local Passport Family, Best Family RV: Class A vs Class C (and also Class B) | Local Passport Family, List of Small Businesses That Sell Children's Products Online | Local Passport Family, 5 Kids, 43 Countries, 20 Travel Essentials for Kids | Local Passport Family, Travel Backpack For Kids Packing List | Local Passport Family, Our Favorite Prime Day 2023 Deals for Traveling Families, Best Tips for Flying with a Baby From a Mom of 6, LPF Weekly Deals 5/26/23: Memorial Day Sales. As for using LATCH, it sounds like you are asking to use both LATCH and the seat belt to install the car seat. Our daughter is still well within the forward facing car seat weight limit. If there is no passenger airbag, it might also be suitable for a rear facing car seat. Unfortunately, RVs present a unique set of safety challenges for adults traveling with children that may not be readily apparent. Some RVs do not have an adequate number of seat belts for the number of occupants. Car Seats in RV | RV Seat Belts | SafeRide4Kids If so, thats what I would do. 5 Best Class C RVs for Traveling With Car Seats The seat belts in the cabins of recreational vehicles are not subject to that testing. The 8 year old has to be in a car seat in Quebec, but not in Ontario (correct?). We have a 4 yr old.where treo safely place his carseat.. .why arent rear seatbelts required to have national safety standards on them!? This means picking a motorhome with rear seats that fit your baby seat securely. Do you have any tips about how to tell if the seat you are strapping the car seat to is structurally sound (bolted to the metal frame) or not? While precautions must be taken to ensure that the RV is being towed properly, these are generally considered the safer option for traveling with children. The Checkout page will display your Premium Membership purchase. A crash impact or rollover can crush this frame. We design our cars not to crash. Summer travel time, which includes family road trips and perhaps traveling with children in RVs. States also have varying laws for seat belt use for adults and older children. All child restraints are only tested and/or certified for use in forward-facing vehicle seats. Recreational Vehicle seat belt on a couch these belts are NOT bolted to the vehicles floor. The trickiest child restraint was for our 9 year old, who is typically in a low-back booster seat. I would caution anyone to use this video as a recommendation. Did you have any problems with mounting the chairs due to the belt buckle being in the middle instead of at the side like in a normal car with lap belts? Follow these guidelines when securing a child seat in a motorhome: Ensuring the car seat is made for the place it is attached to. Since not all RV seats face forward, and because RV seat belts aren't always anchored to the frame of the vehicle, there's no great way to . If so, can the airbag be turned off? Check in the cab of the RV for seating positions that are appropriate for installing car seats. THE DYRT The #1 camping app and a Cruise America partner. One exception would be for a Class B or C vehicle, and generally only for the driver and front passenger. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Can You Mount Baby Seats In All Camper vans? Finish by clicking Complete Order. Sign up for a membership now! Free 2-4 Day Shipping on Feature Products in USA, Car Seat Best Practices & 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test, What does your state law say about car seats? For instance, the structural soundness of an RV may be questionable in a crash. I hope sharing our experience, tips, and tricks for which car seats and the configuration we used in our RV with kids was helpful to you. The middle bench seat has a full regular waist and shoulder belt + we picked up an Anchor Mounting Kit for ISOFIX Belt Connector that we installed properly for our Uppababy Mesa V2 seat. Im just curious, before my family and I even bother with an even, is this grounds for cps to get involved? Maybe Ford would have some people they can refer you to. RV with 6 month old and 2 year old - car seat arrangements?? What we like: Our also-great pick for robot vacuums. We are coming from Austria and I have now studied several homepages and legal sites but I am still confused about the legal requirements. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi there! The caution about never rear facing installation of child seats makes no sense.. As long as there are frame mounted the theta and catches, either is fine. which car seats the Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) recommended we use in the RV with kids. 2. His booster shouldnt be used with the lap belt, but hes too big for the 5 point harness that came with the booster. RV Position: backward-facing dinette seat, creating a top tether point using the, Notes and considerations: Since he was in a forward-facing car seat installed on a backwards-facing bench, he was essentially in a rear-facing position in the vehicle (facing toward the back). Ill explain more about the configurations and how we installed the car seats in the RV below. If you were planning to tow a car, consider driving it instead. Childrean aged between four and seven years (15-36kg) should use a booster seat. It may be safe or it may be very dangerous. Do you have any insight on this process as we are not interested in upgrading our rig just yet. I believe Taylor said put kids in the towing vehicle, not the towed vehicle. RVs do not appear to be exempt from Californias, Oregons or Washingtons car seat law requirements. Ive decided to rent a large size passenger Van with all the appropriate safety requirements. Whatever type of RV you rent or buy, remember driving a RV is a lot different than your passenger car. Thank you for this blog. Susanne (The Netherlands). You need to follow the state car seat law for each state you are driving in with your RV. Ideally it would also have a tether anchor available for forward-facing car seat or a RideSafer vest for your older child. The majority of states in in the United States require proper use for child restraints. We have two children so we can use the two anchored lap belts on the forward facing dinette seat. Please drop them in the comments below! This means its perfect when there is only a lap belt option, assuming there is a tether point available. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The passenger seat is the best option for a forward facing child passenger in an RV. We updated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This seating area leaves no room for the installation of a rear facing seat, provides no top tether anchor for a forward facing seat, and has far too little room fora child in a forward facing seat to be properly protected in a crash. Life Buckling Up Kids in an RV Buckling Up Kids in an RV By: Bryanna Royal Hitting the road with your kids or grandkids sounds like a great adventure and an amazing family trip. Creating an attachment point that is not bolted to the frame could easy break loose in an accident. Class B RVs can require lap belt only seat belts in the back seating if it carries a chassis-mount camper that weigh between 8,500 lbs and 10,000 lbs. Thank you! So we started looking into a couple options to properly restrain him. Side seat in back with no restraints/visible attach points. We would suggest first contacting MB and see if they can tell you how wide the passenger airbag is and how far it deploys into the seating area so you can determine if it will indeed be in front of the middle seat as well as the passenger seat. Making sure there are no loose objects that could harm your child in their seat. Thank you so much for this post and the details you provided! It seems like it would be better than just strapping them in to the seats alone yet you mention in your first paragraph that this isnt allowed. Its good to know that you should try to have a towable RV so the children can ride properly in the towing vehicle. The safety vest with the anchor belt is an amazing find.. Most significantly, the seat belts are often not secured to the frame of the vehicle as is required for passenger vehicles. It might be interesting to do a crash test experiment with dummies in an RV and see exactly how much more protection (compared to no car seat) one has in some non-ideal circumstances. Safety 1st onBoard 35 Air 360 - Best for Small Babies. Obviously, because it has never been tested or certified this way, putting a child restraint in one of these seating positions would be outside of the child seat manufacturers specifications. We are in a less-than-ideal situation with our 2015 Mercedes Sprinter, as we only have a front 3-seater bench from the manufacturer and it is our only vehicle at current. My boys rear face in convertible car seats. Additionally, what do you recommend for my older child? Thanks for publishing all this useful information! Can you detail any RV options that HAVE seats bolted the frame/chassis with shoulder belts? The few individuals we have contacted do not entertain the idea due to liabilities. Like other certified child restraints, the RideSafer can only be used in a forward-facing vehicle seat. And since shes close to 2, I would personally take the benefit of that over the benefit of extended rear facing (since then youd need to create a tether point for the car seat on the rear facing bench its obviously doable and we did it, but only because we had 3+ kids. Those particular seats are in front of the vehicle, usually in a well of sorts or with a partial wall on either side. Like many others, we are planning on renting a Class C RV this summer to drive from the west coast of the US to the midwest to visit family. Required fields are marked *. Often the rear compartment is built on a wood or aluminum frame. If there is a structurally sound lap-shoulder belt or structurally sound lap-only belt and a tether anchor in a forward-facing vehicle seat with a high back, the RideSafer should work.
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