My Wife and I are new to the RV world. I used to camp in a waxed canvas tent throughout my childhood and then in the newer lightweight tents as an adult. Now that Im married with two small boys (4 year olds) we thin kthat it might be fun to own an RV and take off on weekends, school holidays and summers to go see America. We've attended a few Rv shows and really like the Winnebago Ind. Sunstar 32k or 35b bunkhouse MH's. My main concern is safety. Are motorhomes safe to travel with such small children? I know they would love to be in the bunks while traveling, and I know that is NOT the safest way for them to travel in the MH while in motion. For the boys to be in car seats latched into a couch seatbelt seems like traveling would not be much better than in our 2011 Ford Explorer. I guess I'm looking for comments from other parents, grandparents, and the community on how best to:1. Choose a well constructed "safe" coach.2. Travel safely with 2 small boys.I welcome everyones opinions and comments as it would ease both our minds.Thanks a bunch.

I am pretty sure that seat belt regulations, including car seats are the same in any RV. That means, if your child is in a car seat then the car seat would be mandatory in the RV.Remember....child car seats do have dates they expire!!!

I'm really confused about a topic where, on one hand you indicate that you are concerned about travelling safely, yet on the other you are even entertaining the thought of rolling down the road without them being strapped in.Seat belt laws exist for a reason... those reasons exist whether you are rolling in a car, your Explorer, or a motorhome. Also, keep in mind that there is much more bouncing around in a motorhome than your Explorer. Going around corners, even at a slower speed, in a 20000lb MH will also have them moving around. Not sure I can really say that there is one type/brand which is constructed more safely than another.

I don't think I would want to travel down the road with growups or kids wandering around the trailer when in motion.All the ones I have ever been in is alot of motion inside the trailers going down the roads...What you would gain however is where the safety belt seats are. They could watch in-motion TV or DVD's all day long straped in their seat belts...Roy Ken

If the MH you're interested in has a booth dinette then you could strap them in there and be safe. After doing a short internet search I've read that kids should not ride in a motorhome period, only strapped in a car seat in the front passenger chair, you need a customized setup where the seat and belts are bolted to the frame (not just plywood), never ever ever walk around in an RV in motion (especially the driver) and if you don't do all of this you are a bad parent, and the world will come to an end. Being the parent you will do what you think is safe (enough) for you and your family. IMO, they should be seated, belted.

Many states REQUIRE children to be properly restrained when travelling, Now there is much discussion on this in motor homes.. My Class A has 4 seat belts, two are in the front facing captain's chairs and 2 in the side facing couch (Bench seat) where I'm sitting now. (parked) some people insist that child safety seats are not designed for side facing use.personal opinion: What about a side impact crash? Of course they are designed (Well good ones are designed) for side impact.I can move, safely, around a moving vehicle, provided nothing of an emergency nature happens. Lots and lots of training to do that (All at low speed, I was a farm boy after all).But most people.. Not without handrails to hold on to.. I would not want kids moving about in the motor home Heck, Even I prefer to have hand rails (Say if I am riding a city bus and moving to my seat as the driver pulls away from the bus stop).. City buses are free where I am at by the way.I would not want kids loose in the RV when in motion. Or anyone else less seriously needed.

New to RVing, concerned with safe traveling | Good Sam Community

NYCgrrl
Explorer
Apr 27, 2014
Given that most RVs aren't built as well as a vehicle I'd err on the side of caution and ensure everyone was seat belted in the car/truck/whatever.
This wasn't a concern when my kiddos were growing up(they grew up in a part of the nation where owning a car was a liability more than an advantage) but is for my granddaughter. So she straps herself into her back row child car seat, draws, plays old fashioned road games and reads.
Snobrdr314
Explorer
Apr 27, 2014
JWoodie youre probably right that's the safest approach to life... but I was inquiring about safe travel in a motorhome.
jwoodie
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
What are the actual per mile statistics on passenger injuries for motorhomes vs. cars? It seems to me that the "safest" approach is to stay home.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 07, 2014
Interesting story... Today the law says you bring a child seat to the hospital to take your newborn home.. However at the hospital where my daughter was born, over 30 years ago, I was the first parent to do that... (Ok so I'm a retired police dispatcher and really do not like typing that message that starts out "RE: Fatal Traffic Accident", which I have typed too many times in my life)

Well, we never went anywhere with her that she was not properly bucked in.

ONCE,, Got distracted (Happens to all of us) and forgot to buckle her belt.

She set up a wail before I could move the car more than 3 feet (like 30 to get to the street) and of course.. She wanted to be properly buckled.

She was not yet talking,, but she knew the belt needed buckling.

Thats one smart girl.. Today.. She is expecting my first Grandchild.
kcny
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
For the most part, my brother-in-law let's his 4 and 6 year old roam around.

My 4 and 6 year old stay buckled in front facing car seats, strapped next to each other on the couch (so they are riding down the road sideways). I turn on the inverter and let them watch a DVD. 1/2 the time they fall asleep, especially on the way home from a trip

...to each his own
Snobrdr314
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
No judgements here, just trying to find out what really happens on the road. Thanks for commenting.
tbob777
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
Well, I guess I'm out of the norm, and probably a bad mother. When we had our A, My girls 20-10 moved around willy nilly, napped in the master bed, and colored at the dinette. I did, in fact, make sandwiches while hubby is driving :-/ To each their own I guess.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
JBinOR wrote:
I think that Coachmen had more seat belts than most. .
But what were those seats constructed of, and how were they attached?
wny_pat1
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
There isn't any argument, the safest RV going is one of monocoque or semi-monocoque construction, or a old Bluebird RV bus. Maybe we should incude a Prevost or other motorcoach conversions. But as far as any motorhome built on a truck chassis, all bets are off! They just don't make the safety grade.
Mvander
Explorer
Feb 28, 2014
If you want to RV you will be the safest (in an accident) in a passenger vehicle towing something. Modern passenger vehicles have many saftey features and most don't exist on motorhomes.

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