Anybody travel with kids in their camper?

[Neibe]

We always bring a few new cheap dollar store toys they haven't seen before. And they watch T. V. It works very well one is 4 one is 8 been doing this for a few years drive from michigan to iowa every year like this. We don't let them ride in the trailer.

 

[crobertson1]

I could care a less if it's legal or not in some states. It's STUPID in every state to let your children ride in the RV in the name of peace. It would be better to die yourself in a wreck,than to know you'll have "peace and quiet" because you child is no longer around to go camping with you after an accident. I really can't believe this is still going on.

 

[mbadger]

Trailer Life Directory and AAA have information on riding in 5th Wheel trailers in all States and Canada. There is also lengths, and other important information that I find helpfull. Our kids are grown up but my wife even likes riding in our 5th Wheel trailer. As was mentioned communications is important. Happy trailersing.



Mike

 

[Woodenhead]

My buddies family lost one child and the other will live with many problems for life because a truck went through the camper they were in while traveling. Campers are certainly not designed to withstand any accidents. I don't have kids now but when I do, I certainly won't put them in the camper while travelling.



Mike

 

[desertryder]

Nobody seems to mention the fact that thousands of kids are riding in Motorhomes everyday.

Are the presumed to be any safer ?

I hate to admit it but I have thought of a small camper just for the kids.

Maybe I am too honest??? Maybe I am just a dummy ?

 

[Speedo]

Many years ago I stopped behind a truck/camper at a stop light in the left turn lane. When the light turned green the truck took off and a small kid took off fell out of the back door. The truck kept going, unaware that they had dumped their precious cargo. I stopped and someone else chased down the pick-up. I don't know how much effect that had on me but I would never even consider putting anyone in the camper while going down the road.



Gus

 

[JJ Jackson]

I didn't post this question to be condemned for my actions, just to see if anyone else had any fun stories about traveling with their kids in the camper. I remember one time the kids opened every window and shredded toilet paper and let it fly through the camper. To our friends traveling next to us it looked like a hurricane in the camper. Or the time my wife tried to slide through the pass thru while we were moving and the wind blew her top forward and she wasn't wearing her bra, that one got a few honks. I remember being a kid and traveling in the cabover of my dads pickup going around Lake Tahoe, that was scary, being that high up, around some of the switch backs at Emerald Cove. Or the time we had slingshot wars with Pillsbury dough between the to campers on the highway. Those are memories I never would have had staring at the back of the seat for 14 hrs on our annual trip to the Glamis Sand Dunes by Yuma AZ. My kids love to travel in the camper and so does my wife, I'm not saying that its great to not see my kids for the whole trip, they bounce back and forth through the pass thru. They have fun, actually they have more fun making a mess than watching DVDs and playing Nintendo, and that alone makes me happy. When we get where we're going the kids all have smiles on their face, unlike our friends who travel with the kids in the truck and are space cadets from staring at the boob tube a foot from their face. We ride motorcycles and quads so we know that life has its risks, and I weigh each risk carefully. Some would say that I am putting my kids lives at risk everytime they suit up for a bike ride. Please don't condemn me just interested to hear if anyone else has fun traveling in a camper... . Jim

 

[Simplysmn]

rideing in a camper

while i was on a trip to and from ariz in the early 70,s with my dad i was rideing in the camper of our truck it was a 72 f250 ford lb truck we had a 10 ft camper on it ride was nice till i got basicly sea sick in camper from all the wind rocking an rolling it around well while we were in yuma ariz i decided to climb into front of truck being that we were almost home to cali . well as we crossed into cali the winds go so bad that it riped the camper clean off truck tore side of bed open like a tin can boy o boy was i glad i wasnt in there needless to say as we pulled over to see how bad it was the camper was still rolling thank god nobody got hurt n truck was fixed fairly easy with a comealong n a welder so as for my vote to ride in camper not only no but heck no ide buy a crewcab and a role of duct tape they say duct tape works wanders :--)



thats also why i have a 85 converted to ctd i love my dodge .



val

 

[AMink]

JJ

I didn't post to condemn you, just to tell a rather sobering side of riding in the back. I've ridden in the back of pickups, my wife rode back and forth from Carson City to NW Washington in the camper when she was young. On the other hand, the times I've been injured in accidents was up front in a seat. Go figure! No offense intended.

 

[desertryder]

come to think of it all we do is ride dirt bikes.

Many people who do not know the experience think it is totally unsafe and our parent license should be revoked for letting a 6 year old on his own dirt bike.

I am a believer of the " LIfe is terminal " attitude and you should have as much fun as possible before you depart this Earth. Live , Learn and treat people nicely and life will be a lot of fun I always remind my son.

I am heading to Missoula Montana this June and I plan on a small Six Pack camper with a porta potty and a table where the kids can play.

I even checked with the CHP and the officer told me that as long as the rear door has a lock on it from the outside and there is a child seat for anyone under 6 they have no problem with kids in campers.

They can crawl through the sliding windows and have some fun just as I did 40 years ago. I don't think is any dumber than putting a kid on a Airplane.

When your number is up it doesn't matter where you are.

After they play and relax in the camper when they need a break they can crawl up front with me again and buckle up in the truck.

 

[Tractorat]

Kids traveling in camper

I have to believe that this is VERY against the law (if for no other reason, no seat belts,etc) This is so dangerous that Im surprised that anyone would even admit to it. Even you you had radio communications, if something went wrong inside, they may not be able to use the radio. If you leave gas/power etc on, anything could happen (fire, etc) and it would be too late to do anything about it. Even if you had a radio.

 

[SKargo]

I just strap my kids to the roof when they get on my nerves. Or take off and leave them at rest stops in the middle of nowhere.

If they find me somehow, I take them to the middle of the bad part of town, and make sure they have handfuls of $100 bills.



When I work on my truck, I don't use jackstands, I use 2x4's, and make my kids lay under the truck and hold the 2x4's steady for me.

I also let them get their own handguns after their 3rd birthday, and let them drive my truck at age 4.

 

[Tractorat]

Kids traveling in camper

I just reread the posts from folks who actually let their kids ride in trailers . All I can think of so say is WOwww.... ...

 

[midlife crisis]

Yep Scott you read my mind. From now on -running with scissors, checking the mowers blades with the engine running, and diving in the shallow end will be tolerated. I wouldnt want to deprive anyone of a possible fun experience.

 

[SKargo]

Yep Scott you read my mind. From now on -running with scissors, checking the mowers blades with the engine running, and diving in the shallow end will be tolerated. I wouldnt want to deprive anyone of a possible fun experience.

:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[JJ Jackson]

I was thinking of building a soap box for you guys to stand on, but I ran out of lumber since it is getting so high now to see over the Bull p**p. If you guys have some documented statistics on camper fatalities as compared to other forms of RV's please post them. Otherwise, if yoy don't have a pleasant travel experience to share than just go away. Remember to read all my posts on the topic not just the first line... . Jim

 

[24V-DSL]

Ask anyone in the "documented statistics" if they'd rather not be there. Or, if there are none, bet you'd rather not be the first.

 

[SKargo]

I was thinking of building a soap box for you guys to stand on, but I ran out of lumber since it is getting so high now to see over the Bull p**p. If you guys have some documented statistics on camper fatalities as compared to other forms of RV's please post them. Otherwise, if yoy don't have a pleasant travel experience to share than just go away. Remember to read all my posts on the topic not just the first line... . Jim

If I posted something as ridiculous and dangerous as this, I would fully expect to hear opinions on the matter.

If you can't take peoples opinions, maybe you should go away.

 

[MMiller]

Well how structurally sound is the school bus my boy rides to school? I know it does not have seat belts, it drives in crappy weather, and at the end of the day the kids are standing up on the bus, and moving around. Not everybodies kids ride a bus but mine spends almost 2 hrs a day on one.



All it took was one answer from one person about it being unsafe, you all did not have to tear in to him. If you agreed then just say you agree its unsafe. Holy smokes, when I was 8 my dad let me run the lawn mower, he even fixed the seat switch cause the dech would quit running cause I was too light. When I was 10 I was driving his pickup truck with a 4 spd. When I was 12 I was running a tractor up and down the road hauling grain. My friends did it, so did I. Some got hurt, a few died. That is what reminded us to work safer. Did my dad put me in danger? I don't think so, he made very clear to me what was going on and how the machine worked. I'm 28 and have all my fingers and toes, arms and legs. When my brother was in kindergarden he had already drove a tractor by himself. Oh yeah he's not dead either and he is 22.



I agree that in the camper is not the safest place to ride, I like my kids belted in. My 8 yr old is not going to run the mower. He is not safe enough to trust yet, but he is very differnt then I was. My dad would not let my son run his mower. You all did not have to jump on him, sheesh.



Man guys your responses were over the top.

 

[KBalzuweit]

:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf Agree with ya SKargo. Just saw a collection jar at the bank for a little girl 2 years old with a terminal disease, and it really made think even more about this. Lives, especially our kids are so precious!! WHY RISK THEM FOR SOMETHING STUPID. I have no problem with riding MX, racing, etc... . but you are wearing protective gear. Riding in a box that when in an accident turns into toothpicks is just STUPID. All I can say is use your head, kids do not know the difference, if your an adult and you want to do that its your choice. Heck sometimes I wish my wife would want to ride back there :-laf :-laf .