Dodge Minivan for 8 people? Help!

[Altoqueenkelly]

eeek.... this whole thing just makes me very nervous. This whole situation is SO unsafe!!! No seat belts for the adults, sitting on the floor, kids not in car seats-on laps! oh my.... I realize people did these things a few decades ago on a regular basis and many many accidents and deaths have resulted....

Is someones death worth the $500 you would save? I suspect not. Plan for safety or make a new plan.

 

[HM]

I have a Honda Odyssey (2007). It has the captain seat configuration in the middle, but it also has a small seat that can be put in place between them to make a seat for an eighth person. Maybe there are some rental vans that have this option?

 

[Pumpkin910]

Alamo has 8 seat Toyota Siennas. I booked one yesterday through Costco but you can book them on the Alamo website too. Might be worth a look.

 

[gofordrew]

Yes, they do, unless you don't care about their safety.

By law, adults do not need seat belts in the back seat. Its the back seat...

 

[SmallWorld71]

Orlando is an easy city. I drive in NYC. I own a 9 passenger Suburban and I love my truck but wanted to see if I can squeeze one more person who was added at the last minute. Lol. Safety first . xoxoxo

Statistically, New York is safer. On a list of 15 most dangerous driving cities, Orlando is #2. (New York doesn't even make the list. The southern cities as a whole are more dangerous).
2. Orlando, Fla. --
Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 19.95; total fatalities: 46; percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 10.9

The only city that is more dangerous than Orlando is Fort Lauderdale.
Read more: http://www.wlky.com/marketplace/automotive/586730#ixzz35gbjfCeP

I drove by myself from SW FL to MA and Orlando was worse than New York or Boston. My grandparents are in Cape Coral, FL and I find driving in FL far more confusing and scary than anywhere in the Northeast.

As far as you original question, my mother used to own a Dodge Caravan and I ended up transporting 8 in it one day due to an emergency situation. We were able to fit 4 across the back seat: 1 child in a booster, and 3 others who were quite skinny (1 adult, 1 teen and 1 older child who had outgrown car seats). The adult (my mother) sat without the seat belt. It worked, but it was squished. And, as the driver I was nervous the whole time. You probably could fit 4 in the back or an adult on the floor, but it's not a situation I would purposely choose.

 

[nmrgrl55]

How far of a trip are you making? Could the the 3 year old sit in the back in an adults lap? The car seat would take up more room than an adult would, thats where you are going to lose the most room. In my experience the back seats aren't super large, but if you let the 3 year old ride in a lap (if its a short distance) then you would have a lot more room.

Seriously? You would risk the life of a child to save room? I would hope that if anyone is risking their life it would be a consenting adult. The 3 year old should still be in a 5pt harness, not on a lap!

As for the question. I have a 2005 Dodge Caravan and there is no way 8 would fit. We have 2 seats in the front, 2 in the middle and 3 in the back.

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

I would go with Alamo and get a Toyota Sienna

 

[siskaren]

By law, adults do not need seat belts in the back seat. Its the back seat...

I didn't say anything about whether or not it's legal; I said it's not safe. I want to scream whenever I hear about a car accident where someone died after being thrown from the vehicle because you don't get thrown from a vehicle unless you're not wearing a seat belt.

Also while it is true that back seat passengers don't need seat belts in Florida (I googled to confirm), in Illinois (where I live), every passenger is required to wear a seat belt.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I would go with Alamo and get a Toyota Sienna

Not sure if I've seen this available to book elsewhere, but this popped up as a type you can reserve at the Swan/Dolphin:

 

[susieh]

Try driving in the UK if you want scary. Cars go faster (90mph), roads are smaller and in our experience US drivers licence are more considerate than here.
But wherever in the world i drive I always wear, and make everyone else wear, a seat belt.

 

[asmit4]

Pay the $$$, get one that seats- with seat belts- 8 people. just don't. You won't ever forgive yourself if something happens. It's simply not worth the risk.

 

[n2mm]

You need a sienna or larger. Have you considered 2 cars? We had a T&C in May and the 6 and 8 year olds sat in the 3rd seat. They could've gotten another child back there with them but that was all we were 4adults and 2 kids

 

[Phillips Family]

Won't work, too many people

Try going with one of those passenger vans

I had a Grand Caravan for 3 years, awesome minivan, but it's not going to be safe for 8 people

Keep in mind, you are driving that thing in Florida, this isn't exactly the safest state when it comes to driving

Edit : In a pinch, you can put your car seats in the middle seats, and fold down the rear seats and have everyone sit on the sto & go floor if it's a short distance