Two big doodles and a baby on the way....vehicle recommendations?

[cocoincanada]

Hi everyone,

Hoping you can help!

We have two 80lb doodles and a baby on the way. We take long road trips a few times a year to visit our families in the maritimes (15 hour drive). We currently have a Hyundai Tucson, which has worked well for us up until now. We fold the seats down, put the dogs beds in the back....and the dogs stretch out and take up pretty much the whole back seat. Not much room for cargo even, so we had bought a Thule cargo box for the roof, where we can put our luggage. Everyone travels comfortably this way.

Now, with baby #1 on the way, this set-up won't work anymore. We're going to need a bigger vehicle for these long road trips, so there can be room for the baby and the dogs. When the seat is up in the back, the hatch/trunk space is not big enough for both dogs to sit/turn around/lay down comfortably. Baby is not due til February, so we have lots of time, but we're starting to look at vehicle options now.

My questions....

1) what vehicle(s) do you recommend for long trips with two 80lbs doodles, a baby and two adults?

2) how do you keep everyone safe when traveling (in case of accidents?). I wouldn't want to have the dogs positioned in a way that if we went in an accident, they would crush the baby. Do you keep baby and dogs separated?

Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks! :)

[Kathy Janes]

hit the missing LIKE button!

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I recently had to book a rental car for a business trip, and I got a Buick Enclave--which I think is a corporate twin of Sandy's (or should I say Hattie's) Acadia.

I was very impressed with its interior room and driveability. All our cars are sedans, so I didn't want to have to get used to a truck-like drive as I drove the 2.5 hours from the airport to my destination. It was very car-like to drive, though you sit up a bit higher, which was nice. The model I drove also had the rearview camera, which was really, really nice.

The only downside was the gas mileage, which was like 17 mpg. I think, for the 2013 models, they're putting in a more efficient engine.

I've been so impressed with the Enclave that I've been trying to persuade DH that we need one ever since that trip. He doesn't agree . . . yet! *^_^*

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I think I'm more than a little in love with it, too!

I didn't mention that I'm 6 feet tall, with long legs. Usually, when I get the driver's seat back far enough for me, there is no room left in the back seat. Not so with this vehicle! Lots and lots of room, but not so long you can't drive it easily.

I'm glad you and Hattie are enjoying yours!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I vote for a minivan. You would be amazed what you can fit in one and you can get the automatic door that opens from a button on your key ring and makes your life so much easier. My kids are fully grown, but I will only own a minivan from here on out. You could actually have the baby in one of the middle seats, a doodle in the other middle seat, and one in the back seat and they all could be restrained, plus extra room for all the stuff. Good luck!!

[Kathy Janes]

I love the GMC Acadia that Sandy posted - they are really good looking automobiles.  In our area, where nearly everyone has three kids and at least one dog, they seem to love the Honda Odyssey van.  They have lots of room, are really safe, have great resale value (though no one here sells them, they just buy a second one!).  So from what I see, but not personal experience, I'd strongly suggest a look at one of them.

Dog seatbelts are becoming more popular too, and I hear some states are going to start requiring them.  If you had a vehicle with a third seat and storage room behind that, they could each be buckled in on the third seat.  Our two big doods do fine on trips sharing the seat, so I don't think they'd be uncomfortable.  There is still room to lie down or sit with your nose out the window!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Ditto to the Honda Odyssey ... we are retired and childless with two doodles and love our Odyssey.  I've always said I'm probably the only woman with no children driving a minivan, but I can seat 8 people, or Both doodles can sit on the seats behind the drivers seat and the back row of seats folds down if desired.  Even if we have all 3 rows of seating for 8 people we still have storage for luggage or groceries etc.  Love Love Love.  No, it isn't a trendy SUV, but I still love it!  We use a harness type seatbelt  system for the girls.  They have room to either get on the seat or get on the floor (which is what Sophie likes) but should we be in a crash they will remain in the vehicle and won't be ejected.  We have traveled on many 15 hours trips with them.  We originally bought it because my sister sometimes uses a mobility scooter and we had room for her, the scooter, the doodles and my Mom and room to spare.  I can't say enough good about it. Right now we have the back seat folded down and all but one of the 2nd row removed because of Lucy's surgery and the need for easy in and out for her.  Lots of space on the floor.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

My daughter and her husband drive a Honda Pilot.  They have two dogs, one toddler, a baby on the way, and lots of junk and everybody seems to fit just fine.  They don't do a lot of long distance driving, but the Pilot gets them comfortably from the Bay Area to southern California.

[ClarkP]

Can you fit both Doodles in your Tucson with just the one side of the rear seat folded down?  I have a Volvo V70 which also has a 60/40 split rear seat.  That worked with only one child in a child seat in the narrow section seat.  The wider part of the back seat was folded down and was the same platform as before.  The doodles did have less space but they could use this quite easily and travel comfortably.  We also had a big Thule box on the roof for road trips.

But if you are looking for a reason to buy a new car... ignore everything I just said and look at the fabulous suggested doodle haulers!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I think your best bet is a full size SUV.  My daughter just drove down from Northen CA with a husband, 4 month old baby and a Rhodesian Ridgeback.  The dog was in the back seat with the baby and traded for the front seat when my daughter needed to tend to the baby.  The way back was all baby stuff, dog stuff and their stuff and it was packed.  When you start putting in strollers, bouncing seats and stuff like that it fills up quickly.  Luckily for her I have a complete set up for babies here at my house.  Pack n' play, high chair, Bumbo, changing pad, activity saucer, umbrella stroller and car seats for all ages.  I also keep supplied all the toiletries both baby and adults need so they can do minimal packing.  My son was here two weeks ago with his four kids but they flew out from Boston.  That is why I have so many car seats (4).  Now that the youngest is no longer in the car seat that snaps into the wheels and becomes a stroller, her car seat lives in the car and she is transferred to a stroller.  So I have a stroller waiting here.  But, they drive from Boston to Michigan a few times a year and their car of choice is the Honda Odyssey.  They have leased them in the past and are currently on their third one which my son finally bought off the lease.  They too have the Thule on the top.  They take a stroller, pack n' play, bikes and tons of toys and other stuff.  Kids range from 8, 6, 4 and 19 months.  So there you go.  Your schlepping of stuff is only going to grow so why not get a full size car now.  Full size Puppy Hauler SUV or the Honda Odyssey.  Believe me...my son has researched cars to the fullest and the Odyssey is their best bet.  My DIL is very short (4'11") so the choice also was determined by which car could get the seat closest to the peddles and steering wheel...ha ha!!!

 I have a Ford Flex which is Gracie Doodle's Limo.  I love it and it is perfect for the 8 hour drives we take to see our daughter.  The middle seat is spacious and the third seat folds down perfectly flat.  We have used it to take furniture up to our daughters and the 70 lb Doodle goes with us too. I have had the 4 Boston kids and strollers in it many times.  That is actually whey we bought the car.  I went from smaller to larger because of the once a year the grandkids come visit!  But anything we do as a complete family when they come requires two cars.  I can do the 4 kids and 3 adults (including me) but one adult is left out!  No Doodles though.

[L.M.]

I feel your pain and will be following this discussion closely....I have 2 large doods also and a 3 month old.  We also love roadtrips and bring our doodles when we travel (we usually rent dog-friendly homes).  Right now we have a Honda Element...was great for a while, but now we shove both doods in the back and of course baby is in his seat.  We initially had some issues with Stella (our "smaller" 50 pound doodle) climbing over from the trunk to the seat, close to where the baby is.  I don't worry about her biting the baby or anything, but like you, I worry about her falling on him.  She hasn't done her climb in a while though, but even so, packing the car for even a long weekend is insane.  We did a few weekends down the shore and I had to sit in the backseat with the baby and we shoved all of our luggage in the front seat with the stroller strapped to the roof...lol it was truly ridiculous!  

We literally just paid off our Element and now think we need a new car also because we do plan on having a second child in a few years and figure if we are going to trade in the car, do it sooner rather than later.  I have seen the Acadias and LOVE them, but they are way out of our price range.  Any other feedback from anyone else about the Honda PIlot?? We were really considering that because it has that 3rd row seating and supposedly some trunk space.  

Good luck to you!  You must be so excited! Come join the New Mommies group here on DK...it's a private group where we talk baby and all the crazy stuff that comes with it   =)  

[cocoincanada]

Thanks for all the recommendations!

ClarkP, I think we would be able to fit the two doodles in the back with one seat folded down, but it would be a VERY tight fit with very limited space for them to turn around comfortably. The dogs are BIG, and take up so much room.
It might work in the short term, but I think eventually, we will indeed require a new vehicle.

I am taking note of all the recommendations listed above. Hubby has started looking at several mini vans (Dodge Caravan, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, etc.) online, and several full-size SUVs (Ford Flex, Acadia, etc.), but I really wanted to hear from people who are in the same (or similar) boat as us, and get some tried & true recommendations. Thanks again!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Good luck in whatever you decide and come join us in the New Mommies group!
I am expecting - our girl should be here in 6-7ish weeks! We just bought a Volvo wagon, but only have a chihuahua and mini doodle, so don't have the "big dog" issue you do.