Carseats and RVs

[NYtonowhere]

So attaching my sons carseat in my ILs RV makes me super nervous. What are some tips you veteran RVers have for this newbie. His carseat would be in the dinette section as they only have the front seats and a dinette and the bench. No other single chairs. DS will be 3.5 when we go so still in a 5pt harness carseat.

 

[John VN]

So attaching my sons carseat in my ILs RV makes me super nervous. What are some tips you veteran RVers have for this newbie. His carseat would be in the dinette section as they only have the front seats and a dinette and the bench. No other single chairs. DS will be 3.5 when we go so still in a 5pt harness carseat.

Why? Tighten it down securely and he should be fine. We had DGSs in seats many times when 3 and 5 without issues.

 

[Terapin]

We went through this when we had an RV. We used the dinette, too, and it was fine. Some accidents you are safer as you are up higher and the heavy metal frame takes the impact, but in other accidents cars are much safer. We eventually decided to just do the best we could in keeping our kids safe on the road in the RV.

 

[NYtonowhere]

Why? Tighten it down securely and he should be fine. We had DGSs in seats many times when 3 and 5 without issues.

Plenty of reasons why, the dinette seats, seat belts are not bolted to the chassis usually just to plywood underneath, the amount of projectiles in the RV are numerous, carseats are not crash tested in RVs, i bet there are more but thats just off the top of my head..Its not that i think installing will be difficult its the safety risks that go along with it.
Im pretty serious when it comes to carseat/car safety thats why this gives me so much anxiety but Im willing to give this a try and trust that we just won't crash. Thats why I'm looking for any tips, or anything I'm missing. Need more people to tell me their positive stories about carseats and RVing!

 

[ilovedisneymm]

We had an RV and sold it. Yes there car seats fit into the seats (not dinette seats) but the back seats across from the sofa. Those seats were bolted down to the frame. My kids would not stay in their car seats. Every time I tuned around they were loose and playing in the back bedroom or up needing something to eat or go to the bathroom. I couldn't keep them in and I was always in a mild panic cause of it. My husband would tell me to relax and try to sell me on the "we sit up higher" "we're on a larger frame". I get that and that is true but an accident is going to send a kid flying throughout that RV that is not strapped down. Bottom line, I feel safer in the car with the strapped in securely.

 

[peg110]

I am not advocating that one shouldn't be cautious, but I think if you do the best you can with the situation you have, then there is little else that can be done. While I don't worry about getting into an accident, I know it can happen. I just try to be careful to avoid situations that may make it worse. I don't think kids (or anyone) should be "Running around" while the vehicle is in motion and that they should remain seated and buckled in whenever possible. This is for their safety and even yours. I have faith that even if the Car seats have not been tested in RV's that your child is still safer in the seat. The seat itself is (usually) designed to protect the child even if the seat becomes a "Projectile". The seatbelts should have been tested, however, to protect a "PERSON" and I am sure there is probably a standard that had to be met for the RV to be certified road worthy.

 

[ruthies12]

Well my dh is a firefighter and has the special training through our local children's hospital to install carseats. I'm not kidding it was a 2 week long class! So I leave it in his hands. He has put the booster for our 6 year old and the regular carseat with 5 point harness for our 2 year old on our couch. He gets them down as tight as possible. We also made sure to get a steel frame carseat, the kind that is rated for an airplane crash.

The only other thing you can do is put as much stuff away as possible to reduce potential projectiles. The big thing to think about in an RV is that if you are in a wreck you are more likely to roll over onto the side because they are so top heavy. Those cabinets are not going to stay closed in a rollover so try to put anything really heavy, like a crockpot, someplace where it won't be able to fall on the kid, don't have it in a cabinet right above their head.

On the plus side when driving something that big you are more visible and you are more likely to be in the slower moving lanes so your chances of a wreck are a little bit less.

 

[KristinU]

Check for a LATCH anchor behind the dinette, I know ours has one. DS is out of CPS seats and was out by the time we bought our driveable RV, but it is something I noticed as a safety-conscious mom.

 

[amylevan]

Plenty of reasons why, the dinette seats, seat belts are not bolted to the chassis usually just to plywood underneath, the amount of projectiles in the RV are numerous, carseats are not crash tested in RVs, i bet there are more but thats just off the top of my head..Its not that i think installing will be difficult its the safety risks that go along with it.
Im pretty serious when it comes to carseat/car safety thats why this gives me so much anxiety but Im willing to give this a try and trust that we just won't crash. Thats why I'm looking for any tips, or anything I'm missing. Need more people to tell me their positive stories about carseats and RVing!

I think you've been reading too many car seat blogs - written by people who know carseats but wouldn't DARE to put their children in death traps called RVs, so clearly they aren't RV experts.

For the record, most modern RVs have seat belts that connect to the chassis, as mentioned above, some even come with latch anchors now. Go ahead and look at your in-laws RV. Where do the seat belts connect?

I never understood the "not crash tested in RVs" concern. If car seats are properly installed, how is that any different than crash tested in a car?

But, honestly, if you are that concerned, install your son's carseat in the front passenger seat and turn off the air bag.

 

[Stacy Rakestraw]

The biggest concern is the projectiles. Imagine the speed that all the objects will be thrown around an rv if in a crash. If you wouldn't throw it at your child's face then it is isn't safe not locked down.

 

[John VN]

Plenty of reasons why, the dinette seats, seat belts are not bolted to the chassis usually just to plywood underneath, the amount of projectiles in the RV are numerous, carseats are not crash tested in RVs, i bet there are more but thats just off the top of my head..Its not that i think installing will be difficult its the safety risks that go along with it.
Im pretty serious when it comes to carseat/car safety thats why this gives me so much anxiety but Im willing to give this a try and trust that we just won't crash. Thats why I'm looking for any tips, or anything I'm missing. Need more people to tell me their positive stories about carseats and RVing!

I HOPE the replies from other RVers has helped ease your concern a little so that you and family will be able to ride in the RV without being overly concerned.

ENJOY the journey(s) AND the destination(s).

 

[Sur]

Projectiles? I'm now more concerned about them hitting ME... I'm a bigger target!

 

[peg110]

Projectiles are always an issue. I don't care if you are in an RV or a Car. Anything that can break loose (or is already loose) can become a projectile. It's just that in RV's there tend to be more of them.

To this I can only say, if this is your concern in life, then perhaps an RV is not for you. In fact perhaps one should just stay at home and worry about the plane falling out of the sky on your house. Me, I don't worry too much about these things. Could it happen? Sure. I could also get hit by a train that bounced off the tracks too. I just try to look at things in a more positive way. I am not saying that you should not be concerned about safety, but you do the best you can with what you have. Drive carefully and be safe. Don't worry (too much) about what COULD happen, particularly when the odds of it happening in an RV are no greater than it happening in a car. Worry about having an awesome time and enjoy your vacation.