Anybody travel with kids in their camper?

[R-N-R]

JJ, There is a very thin line between opinions & advice, and a tar & feather job on these forums. This particular topic brings forth a considerable amount of emotion, and understandably so. Look at the bright side, you are now properly seasoned to participate in any future oil, trans, air filter, and/or political threads... . Perhaps you should start a thread on "camping" at Wal-Mart or traveling with propane tank valves open... . just kidding, please don't.



Hang in there,

Bill





SK, can I borrow your 2x4s when you are done with them??? That was f'n funny!

 

[klenger]

Perhaps you should start a thread on "camping" at Wal-Mart or traveling with propane tank valves open

I always leave my propane tanks on when I refuel at the Walmart that I am camping at with my over-loaded truck, with synthetic oil, a manual transmission, and is a SRW, and my kids in the camper. Did I forget anything? :-{}

 

[RustyJC]

I always leave my propane tanks on when I refuel at the Walmart that I am camping at with my over-loaded truck, with synthetic oil, a manual transmission, and is a SRW, and my kids in the camper. Did I forget anything? :-{}

Yes. What brand of synthetic oil, what oil filter are you using, and did you actually go into the Wal-mart and buy anything (fuel doesn't count since the refueling islands are owned by Murphy Oil, not Wal-Mart. ) :-{} #@$%!



Rusty

 

[2broke2smoke]

anyone who has seen an accident involving a trailer knows the answer to this one ...



looks just like someone threw a garbage bag out the window of a truck going 60 ...



but hey go ahead ... perfect example of natural selection, survival of the fittest... etc



the smart/strong will pass on their genetics



people who put their kids in a camper may not

 

[midlife crisis]

Okay- JJ. I didnt realize it was statistics you needed to help with your decision. In an effort to help you, I submit you contact your insurance agent ( health & auto) and let them know your intentions and ask for statistics. (My agents soap box isnt high enough to keep him out of my pocket. )

Perhaps the Institute for Highway Safety can help you with their lists of campers they have crash tested. That should be an interesting conversation. Please let us know how it goes.

Everyone has a story- mine is the memory of the old man having the whole rig sideways on the upper deck of the G. W. bridge while AVOIDING an accident-30+ years ago. I was old enough to know to never ask to ride back there after that momentary yet inspiring event.

Sincerely- save the camper time to the campground, I wish you well-

 

[DPelletier]

I'm not condemning anyone and I remember doing lots of things when I was a kid that I'd never let my kids do. Things like riding in the truck canopy, riding my motorcycle offroad every day after school by myself until dark when nobody knew where I was and other stuff.

I have been unfortunate enough to witness many accidents and have pulled several people from wrecks and I am just way too scared for my kids safety to let them ride in my camper. When they make me mad, I tell my kids that they can be replaced, but really they can't.

Ultimately, I just couldn't live with myself if something was to happen to them when I knew it was a bad idea to put them in that situation in the first place. Just so you don't think I'm just another overprotective parent, my daughter skiis and plays ringette and my son snowboards and races offroad motorcycles and mountain bikes. I make sure they are taught to play safe and wear the appropriate gear. Safe as I can make it whilst still letting them live life to the fullest.





Cheers,

Dave

 

[FCecelin]

Klenger ,, don't forget the guard type pit bull that poops in the neighbors yard

 

[SMorneau]

I think some of your are being kind of hard on those who let the kids ride in a camper. I'm sure all of you who are being so critical get equally upset with the people riding a motorcyle with a kid on back, or the kids riding 2-up on adult size ATVs in the ditches with no helmets, or the kids who ride bicycles without helmets, or the kids who play contact sports, or kids using a power mower improperly, or ... .

 

[Briman]

While moving or traveling, only put the kids you don't care about in the trailer/camper.

 

[CumminSense]

don't forget carbon monoxide

reminds me of a story a few years back when a man here in Virginia drove his family a couple mountains over to join his kin, I think it was Thanksgiving. Kids rode in the back of the truck with a camper shell. When they arrived, both kids were dead -- carbon monoxide. Granted, it was probably an old rust bucket with partial muffler / tailpipe,and less likely to happen on a newer vehicle. Just something else to think about.

 

[crobertson1]

I think some of your are being kind of hard on those who let the kids ride in a camper. I'm sure all of you who are being so critical get equally upset with the people riding a motorcyle with a kid on back, or the kids riding 2-up on adult size ATVs in the ditches with no helmets, or the kids who ride bicycles without helmets, or the kids who play contact sports, or kids using a power mower improperly, or ... .

Or let the kids play with loaded guns, or play tag on the freeway, or letting the kids smoke, or letting them go see X rated movies, or letting them drink alcohol...



Sure, they may not get hurt-but they may end up dead.

 

[BillGotthelf]

My dad had two rv lots in Ft. Lauderdale back in the late 60's early 70's so I have been around rv's of all types for over 40 years. My kids never rode in our TT's or 5th wheels because I did not deem it safe enough. I had seen many wrecked trailers-not much left. But another point-construction of class a and c motorhomes has not changed much in the past 30 years. Big brother has not mandated seat belts for any seats other than the 2 front seats and walls made out of 1" aluminum or 1. 5" wood don't hold up to well in an accident. So most motorhomes don't look to good on paper either. Typically in a motorhome with kids they are roaming around inside anyway. I have a 40' motorhome now and my grandkids walk around alot on trips- is it any better than tt's and 5vers-I don't know but its what I got.

 

[Turboman]

I got a solution, whoop their butts, thats what my dad did to us and we learned to behave. I know you love your kids, so please don't do this anymore. They may think you being mean to 'em, but it's better than lose one or all.

 

[KBalzuweit]

Just did about 3100 miles with 2 kids, 2 dogs (small), and a wife in my quad cab. Couple little fights as could be expected out of a 5 and 6 year old. But all in all a good time. Some videos and a game boy worked fine. Heck the kids are easier to deal with than the wife :-laf , tried to get her to ride in the trailer, no luck :-laf :-laf .

 

[CRuth]

In my years as a firefighter we never had a single save of a camper, trailer, motorhome, mobile home etc. Unless the response time is incredibly fast those things just go up horrendously fast.



I"m sure most of us did a lot of unsafe things growing up. Doesn't mean it was a good idea.



Two weeks ago I was on the Usal road down by the beach. Real nice memorial there for a teenage girl who fell out of a pickup bed. I've done that too. I'm sure they were having a real good time right up until that happened. If we didn't get wiser as we grew up I don't think many of us would make it past 30.

 

[JL penner]

Ah how times have changed. I'm only 27 years old and I can remember climbing over the seats in my moms stationwagon while cruising down the highway. On long trips to horse shows I would camp out in the nose of our gooseneck stock trailer. It was great! How many of you remeber sitting in the front seat and holding the steering wheel for your dad while he lit a cigarette?



Times have changed..... I believe I've heard it reffered to as the "pussification of the United States".



Now, kids have to sit in carseats that make a Nascar driver seat look unsafe. Its unreal to think about the differences of what we got to do when we were kids compared to what kids these days are limited to. I'm not saying that allowing kids to ride in campers is super safe, or letting then ride in the front seat standing up while hanging their head out the window, but what I am saying is, it can't be THAT unsafe. We all lived through it! I bet if you looked at the real stats, you would see that you are more likely to get hit by lightning than die in a tragic camper accident!



Oh and btw, somebody said something about not even letting their dogs ride in the camper now. Well what about horses? Not even the new Megacab is going to be big enough for that. What am I going to do with them. I've heard a bunch of horror stories about horse trailer accidents. I better just stay close to home and never travel again.

 

[JL penner]

I don't know if I made this clear enough. I'm on your side JJ, in the horse world tons of people let the kids ride in the living quarter part of the trailer. We all use those small two way walkie talkies.



I'm done with this soapbox, anybody else want it?



:-laf Flame suit on :-laf

 

[SKargo]

I don't know if I made this clear enough. I'm on your side JJ, in the horse world tons of people let the kids ride in the living quarter part of the trailer. We all use those small two way walkie talkies.



I'm done with this soapbox, anybody else want it?



:-laf Flame suit on :-laf

Why do you think car seats, and seatbelts were developed? Because of deaths and injuries.

Sounds like youmight of taken a few shots to the head when you were young.

 

[Rman]

Why do you think car seats, and seatbelts were developed? Because of deaths and injuries.

Sounds like youmight of taken a few shots to the head when you were young.

Too add to SKargo's reply... why do you think most states mandate the driver and passengers of a vehicle wear seatbelts? Memorial day is coming, police will be out in force to enforce the seat belts laws... why? It was stated before, Natural Selection will run it's course. They call it an accident for a reason, and it's not because you wanted it to happen.

 

[camsv3500]

Its a sure cite here in Kalifornia... .



I wrote it many times... .



In an heavy accident the camper will, many times, come off...





You only have life... . once... .