Anybody travel with kids in their camper?

[JJ Jackson]

Ahhhh, peace and quiet, except for the mumble of the kids beating each other up on the walkie-talkies we use to monitor them. I don't know about you but my kids can't sit still for even 10 minutes let alone 3-8 hours on a camping trip. I leave the fridge on, the water on, sometimes the generator for the Playstation, all in the name of a quiet drive to our destination (usually quad riding). Our oldest of three kids is 12 and we keep in good contact with her with radios and the pass thru rear window, so communication is not a problem. I know its not the safest form of travel, but I like it better than my kids riding in a fifth wheel like they used to. We have a 25ft enclosed trailer for all the toys. Does anyone else travel this way? Do you have any suggestions for a more pleasant trip in a camper?... . Jim ... ... ... . P. S. I don't drive with the slide out, it would get stuck in the drive thru at Mc Donalds. :-laf

 

[The Sequel]

Our kids travel well and are rarely a problem. We bring the books and games and they do great. Of course the have their occasional moments but they really love to travel. We once took a month off and went from AZ around Michigan's U. P. and had no trouble at all.

 

[R-N-R]

DVD Player(s), plug the kids in and relax.....

 

[Rman]

My buddy has a horror story to tell you about this. He was lucky, I highly suggest they not stay in the camper while you're driving. It is beyond extremely dangerous.

 

[JohnnyH]

I thought it was illegal to have passengers in a trailer while towing. I would not do it.

 

[Babyfat]

in some states it is illegal, in michigan there is on law against it (tt's or 5'ers) that could be found

 

[BrianJ]

I have a guide that shows it is legal in most states to ride in a camper or 5er, as long as you have radio communication. I don't have it with me, but I don't think there were many (or any?) that allowed riding in a bumper pull tt. I rode in a camper when I was a kid with no problems. I would be less likely to let my child ride in a 5er, and definately would not let my child ride in a tt.

 

[AMink]

After pulling two children out from under a cab over that rolled, and giving cpr to the 12 year old girl (she died a few days later), I pray that people DO NOT do this. The rig was travelling pulling a boat when it swerved to miss a cow in the road. It hit another cow and rolled. It was night time and my fiance and I were first on the scene. I thought someone lost a load they were taking to the dump. The slide in literally exploded. The truck came to rest on its wheels. We found the 8 year old boy under the back axle, pinned; he was ok but had a VERY sore leg. We finally found the little girl pinned under the front diff of the F250. When I started CPR on her, all that came out was bubbly noises. Please do not drive with your most prized children in the back of the truck or a trailer! Get personal dvd players, game boys, or whatever it takes. My $2 worth. (Needed to put in more than . 02) Oh, BTW, the two ladies and baby in the cab walked away without even bruises, but they now live with their mistake.

 

[RankRam]

That was a great post AMink.

 

[JohnnyH]

After pulling two children out from under a cab over that rolled, and giving cpr to the 12 year old girl (she died a few days later), I pray that people DO NOT do this. The rig was travelling pulling a boat when it swerved to miss a cow in the road. It hit another cow and rolled. It was night time and my fiance and I were first on the scene. I thought someone lost a load they were taking to the dump. The slide in literally exploded. The truck came to rest on its wheels. We found the 8 year old boy under the back axle, pinned; he was ok but had a VERY sore leg. We finally found the little girl pinned under the front diff of the F250. When I started CPR on her, all that came out was bubbly noises. Please do not drive with your most prized children in the back of the truck or a trailer! Get personal dvd players, game boys, or whatever it takes. My $2 worth. (Needed to put in more than . 02) Oh, BTW, the two ladies and baby in the cab walked away without even bruises, but they now live with their mistake.

This is the reason I would never do this. If the kids become unbearable in the truck, it is probably time to stop anyway. I hope everyone reads this.

 

[RustyJC]

I'm with AMink on this one! Although we have a 5th wheel, not a slide-in, I wouldn't even let our 2 Shelties ride in an RV, let alone kids. If you've ever seen an RV that's rolled over (and I've seen a fair number over the years), they come apart like a 50 cent suitcase in a rainstorm! Typically, the frame and running gear are intact, but all the superstructure above the frame is scattered everywhere. Construction methods on slide-in campers (wood or aluminum superstructure) basically mimic 5th wheels, TTs, Class A motorhomes, etc.



If someone is really concerned about safety in RVs and has some $$$ to spend, take a look at truck conversions. Typically, these are Class 6 to Class 8 trucks with an RV body behind the cab - like a king-sized Class C RV. The RV section is often (e. g. - Showhauler) framed with welded rectangular steel tubing and, before the skin is put on, looks like an armored truck. Hey, why not build 'em strong when GVWR is no longer a problem?



Rusty

 

[KBalzuweit]

I AGREE!! My dogs don't even ride in the camper. When something goes bad and a camper is involved, its looks like a bunch of toothpicks on the road. Even in most Class C Motorhomes the only really safe place is up buy the driver, unless you buy a Born Free. And class A motorhomes, unless you have big bucks, they are a joke in a wreck. I have seen a couple that the tranporters have wrecked by our yard in IN andyou have to wonder if they made it and how the heck can they be built like that!!

 

[RustyJC]

And class A motorhomes, unless you have big bucks, they are a joke in a wreck.

Yes, I don't even put the Newell and Prevost-based rigs (Marathon, etc. ) in the same league with the typical Class A. Most RV forums call these high-end units "bus conversions", and they are significantly safer and stronger.



Rusty

 

[KBalzuweit]

After all theses comments, I do not think JJ Jackson will be back on this one. I saw one the high diesel pushers that got hit in the side, not good either. For 300k they need more safety. I would rather survive a wreck and not have marble floors and a jacuzzi tub :-laf .

 

[Grizzly]

Although it is not the safest way, I have let my kids ride in my camper, which is a 11'-3" Lance extended cab-over and the best tiedowns (happy jacks). That was on my single cab Ford. I now have a Quad Cad Dodge/Cummins. I will not let them ride in the camper anymore. Lance is about as good as you can get. Also with any cab-over camper, you want the best tires money can buy and keep the correct air pressure and I will not drive more then 70 mph. Grizzly

 

[justinp20012500]

How times have changed!!



When I was young I always rode in the camper. (in the "truck bed" camper)







Justin

 

[Fred Swanson]

Please tell me you don't actually allow your kids in the camper! I'm sorry, that is one of the most irresponsible things anyone can do. Regard for human life takes no backseat to anything, no matter how annoying it may be.



Get them CD players, headsets work best. DVD, books, games. Interact with them while driving to pass the time away faster.



We did a 2 week camping trip this past summer with a slide-in and trailer with toys in tow. They had their moments, but there is no way my wife and I would allow them to ride in the camper, whatsoever.



The example given by Amink is enough evidence to not do it. One kid lost her life, and those parents have to face that everyday for the rest of theirs. Don't think "it can't happen to me"



I'm sorry, but I take this kind of stuff very serious, there is no room for excuses here.

 

[midlife crisis]

I am stunned at the thread and the fact some people allow this. To use the rationale that you may have done this in your day and survived must mean its okay is beyond words. There are clearly dozens of sound logical reasons why you DONT do this, and not one why you should.

 

[tractorseller]

Not to beat this to death, but letting your children ride in a camper is inexcusable. I'm another one of those that rode around from one end of the country to the other inside a cabover camper when I was a kid. Back then we didn't have crew cab pickups and there was nowhere else for us to ride (six of us wouldn't fit inside a regular cab pickup).



I too have seen some accidents involving campers and travel trailers. They bust up easy and literally explode in a rollover. Seeing bodies laying all over the side of the freeway is pretty sobering.



Use some common sense and please don't do this to your kids.

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I don't want to be to harsh but !!!!

You mean to tell me that you are willing to risk the lives of your children instead of telling them to shut up, who is in control? Who is the parent here. Besides the dangers of rollovers and other accidents, what about carbon monoxcide poisoning from the generator, the fire hazard and a bunch of other things I don't even want to think about.

I have gone on 22 hour driving trips pulling a 31' tt with 2 eight year olds in the back seat. There are plenty of travel games one can play. Think about the interaction you can have with your kids on that drive, things to talk about things to see and songs to sing. Getting there can be half the fun. I have gone on many camping trips when i was a kid and we didn't have Playstations, DVD and other electronics. Yes, sometimes i was told to shut up and read a book or draw a picture and the threat of stopping on the side of the road until everyone was quiet. You are in control and the sooner the kids learn that, the better and safer your trip will be. Once you are at the campsite the kids are of and running so there is plenty of one on one time with your significant other.