What's your family hauler?

Angus

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For those with 3+ kids, what is your family hauler?

We currently have 2 kids and plan to have more in the future, but are starting to see what we should get to be our new family hauler.

I don't want a minivan. Wife doesn't really either but thinks it might be best.

Are 3 row suv's comparable or as functional for 3 child seats? We're looking at something new or a year or 2 old. Don't want anything full-sized either (ex yukon, expedition, etc.).

What do TCG families say?
 

willizm

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May 13, 2009
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I think the "non-minivan" crowd is going to default to Tahoe/Suburban/ Escalade. I have yet to experience any smaller SUV with a 3rd row (Acura MDX, new Explorer, etc) but I'd assume they're satisfactory for at least 2 child seats with seating room for a 3rd...

Fixed and agree.


Have an Escalade or as my friends would call, the Mormon Assault Vehicle. :rofl:
 

Bru

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The previous and current generation Honda Pilot has a third row LATCH connector. Unfortunately, the older Pilot don't have available captain's chairs, which are a favorite family feature when the kids are old enough to get in the back on their own. The Ford Explorer has a third row LATCH and available captain's chairs.

We have two certified child seat installers on our staff, and both have big families with 3+ kids. It's an older story, but this might help:

https://www.cars.com/articles/2014/06/guide-2014-vehicles-with-third-row-latch-and-tether-anchors/
 

Bru

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More so than just backseat room, with child seats you'll want easy access to the third row. The Pilot has an awesome one-touch sliding second row that provides easy access to the third row. The new Highlander also has good third-row access.
 

Outlaw

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:werd:

even new caravans... get a brand new one with bluetooth/power all the things/a bunch of screens/20mpg city, 30mpg highway, 0-60 in under 7 seconds...


$19,957 out the door. :rofl:

Yeah, considering a Tahoe with those same options is over $50,000 it makes the "lameness" a bit easier to swallow.

i like that along with him saying don't want a minivan... which i made a post about, he also said, don't want a fullsize, and everyone goes "tahoe/burban" :rofl:

#tcg

I tried with MDX/Explorer lol. It's hard to get the area of a minivan in anything but a minivan or big ass SUV
 

Eagle

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Doesn't want minivan OR fullsize, has 3 kids. :s00ls:

I guess you'll just line up the car seats in a Chevy SS then?

Honestly, a minivan was a necessity for a few years while the kids are young. The car seats are big and bulky and really don't work well when they're in a third row that you have to climb to in order to buckle kids in.

Tahoe with the third row would be ideal, but doesn't leave much room in the back for storage. The Odyssey I had was pretty awesome, left room for everyone, hauled lots of people and cargo... and wasn't terrible on the eyes or fuel. :dunno:
 

Angus

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i like that along with him saying don't want a minivan... which i made a post about, he also said, don't want a fullsize, and everyone goes "tahoe/burban" :rofl:

#tcg

Exactly. :rofl:

Some quick researched showed up that captains chairs would be best to let the oldest child (3-4 yr old) climb in back and the youngin's car seats in the captains chairs.

Quick look popped up Durango's as an option along with Explorers and the the GM Traverse triplets...

I like the idea of a Hemi Durango... :obama:
 

Angus

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Doesn't want minivan OR fullsize, has 3 kids. :s00ls:

I guess you'll just line up the car seats in a Chevy SS then?

Honestly, a minivan was a necessity for a few years while the kids are young. The car seats are big and bulky and really don't work well when they're in a third row that you have to climb to in order to buckle kids in.

Tahoe with the third row would be ideal, but doesn't leave much room in the back for storage. The Odyssey I had was pretty awesome, left room for everyone, hauled lots of people and cargo... and wasn't terrible on the eyes or fuel. :dunno:

Good points. And honestly, the wife likes the Pacifica so I'm sure we'll take a look at one.

But I'd also like to be able to do some towing as well, not a deal breaker though. Forgot to mention that.
 

jbigalow

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Apr 9, 2008
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[MENTION=12]Bru[/MENTION]

what do you think of the older Pilots? say 2011-15?

i've come to the realization that owning an X5 will be a pain in my wallet and although i hate the look of the front end of the Pilots, they are pretty roomy inside. i'm looking at either and EX-L or Touring. the only thing i heard bad about them is turning on eco mode will mess with the car.

The previous and current generation Honda Pilot has a third row LATCH connector. Unfortunately, the older Pilot don't have available captain's chairs, which are a favorite family feature when the kids are old enough to get in the back on their own. The Ford Explorer has a third row LATCH and available captain's chairs.

We have two certified child seat installers on our staff, and both have big families with 3+ kids. It's an older story, but this might help:

https://www.cars.com/articles/2014/06/guide-2014-vehicles-with-third-row-latch-and-tether-anchors/
 

Bru

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I can't speak to reliability, but generally speaking I think the old Honda 5-speed had longevity issues that plagued many Honda V-6 models for a while. Don't recall if it's something they worked out prior to that. Performance-wise, it's always been a good performing transmission in that generation.

Here's a three-row SUV test we did before the Pilot's redesign. The top three were Santa Fe, Durango and Highlander. The results are so close, however, that you really need to pick which SUV does the best at what you need, like third row room for child seats, driving enjoyment, fuel economy, etc.

https://www.cars.com/articles/the-40000-3-row-suv-challenge/
 
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