Kids in K5s

[1972K20]

I'm seriously thinking about buying a K5, but I have a concern.

How many of you transports your kids in a car seat in your K5? How well does it work and how safe is it?

My first one is due in two months, and I'm talking this though with my wife.

[dubds10]

If you're looking for a daily driver a K5 isn't the best. It'd be the least gas friendly vehicle you could find lol Mine's a daily and I use it as a truck, take the dogs around, kids out in it etc. It's only as safe as the driver and those other driver's on the road. Just like every other vehicle out there. Gets the job done great if you can afford the gas lol

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I have always hauled my child in the blazer with out worry..

[coyote72]

I have taken both of my little ones all over in my blazer. My son was 2 months old on his first desert trip. We found this cushion thing that fit in the car seat and held his body and mostly his head snug in the seat. Its amazing how small they are when you put them in that seat for the first time! Its not the easiest vehicle to run around with kids, but they will always remember it!

[bouncytruck]

I take both my kids in my Blazer without worries. Car seats until they are ready to move to a booster, then buckled in normal (it's safer to run without a booster in lap-belt only vehicles). I don't run the freeways with them in the back and the top off - just too windy for them. They both love riding in Bouncytruck.

A good solid family cage will add some additional security. It is difficult to get a baby in a seat into the back of the truck, especially if it is lifted. For that reason (in addition to fuel and practicality issues) it makes a tough daily driver with infants (just about any 2 door is difficult to get a baby in a seat into the back).

[1972K20]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Just for clarification, it would not be a daily driver.

[Mike C]

Bouncytruck has same experiences as me, baby seat until big enough for a booster in other cars, and just lap belted in the back now that he's 8. With the booster his head is above the top of the back seat, but without, his head and neck are better protected seems to me. My Jimmy was my Dad's daily driver from 1977 'til 1987 when it was wrecked. I was 9 when he got it and my brother 4. We slid around in the back with no seat belts and truck had no roll bar even. Amazing how our attitudes have changed!

[bouncytruck]

FYI - I checked with the State Patrol and the Traffic Safety Commission on the use of Booster seats with lap belts. Both said that it is not recommended and puts the child in greater danger than sitting directly in the seat with the lap belt. Boosters are designed to properly position a child's body for the shoulder belt.

Again, my kids love riding in my Blazer, with or without the top on.

[99-LS1-SS]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

FYI - I checked with the State Patrol and the Traffic Safety Commission on the use of Booster seats with lap belts. Both said that it is not recommended and puts the child in greater danger than sitting directly in the seat with the lap belt. Boosters are designed to properly position a child's body for the shoulder belt.

Again, my kids love riding in my Blazer, with or without the top on.

That's something that I wasn't aware of. Thank you.

[BIGBLU 72]

I was drove around in one as an Infant thru 8 years old! When i bought mine i never thought twice about throwing my little brothers in the back and strapping them in! I figure its just as safe as anything else?

[HI OFCR]

MY daughters love riding in the blazer, My youngest (5) rides in a high back booster seat, my oldest (8) just sits on the seat normal with no booster. Like others have said if she sits in one she is to tall and her head is above the roll bar.

[k5hart]

So, I guess I'm going to be the negative nelly here. I've been struggling with this for a while. I've really come close to selling the blazer because of this question.

I've only been comfortable taking my 2 year old in my blazer in her car seat strapped to the passenger side. This is was only short distances. I don't have a roll bar and with the car seat in the stock back seat it's so close to the roof. The top is fiberglass, which in a roll over is going to break. She will take the hit especially since she is strapped in and can't duck. I doubt that the car seat would stand up to the heavy blazer rolling over on it.

I know it's probably not ever going to happen but it could. With the idiots on the roads these days I expect to get hit some day. My aunt just got t-boned by a guy running a red light and nearly died. She is still in rehab two month later.

With a roll bar or older kids that know to duck down I might feel a little better. I am looking at lowering the rear seat and maybe making some kind of low roll bar but honestly I haven't had much time to think about it.

I know people say they grew up in these trucks with no seat belts and such but it's just different times now. I would feel horrible to hurt my daughter just because I want her to ride in my hot rod. And believe me, she wants too! Sorry if I'm a downer.

[NuBomb]

I've got a 3rd row suburban seat in my blazer with racing seat belts installed. My girls are strapped down pretty tight in that thing. We don't all go out that often, but when we do there is a tight grip on the steering wheel.

[Erik V]

Be super aware of your surroundings, and realize that these trucks arent the dangerous self destructo-mobiles people make old cars out to be. My dad was Tboned in mine when it was nearly new. Soft top was on at the time, the console popped like a balloon, carpet visible from the outside of the driver's side. No major injuries. So keep them belted properly, pay extra close attention when you're out driving, and you'll be fine. Now if you're talking about offroading, thats a whole different story. A surprise accidental rollover is much more likely to happen there, then cruising around on the pavement.

...this from the guy who remembers being about 4 years old in the early 80's, sitting on the wheel well holding onto the rollbar, trying to kick his older sister who was doing the same thing straight across from me. Too bad kids cant get that life experience today.

Erik

[TexasJimmy]

What are seat belts?