Traveling with an infant

Old-Biscuit wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
He's asking WHERE to install the carrier..

And I gave him a suggestion based on the toter home cab configuration

Between the captain chairs in cab.

Toter home is a SEMI cab with a 'sleeper' compartment (not just a sleeper but also living room/kitchen/bath -----an extended sleeper)

There is NO conventional place to put an infant carrier.
Less so then a motorhome.

SO new straps/belts properly mounted on floor to secure a quality infant carrier in cab

I normally agree with everything Biscuit says but not this time. A seat belt bolted to the floor alone will not work. Car seats (baby type) rely on the rest of the seat also when they are strapped in. Basically the belt holds it tight against the bottom seat and the back seat plus a tether that attaches above and behind the back seat..

Passenger seat is the way to go.

There are usually 2 seats in toter
Driver & Passenger
The car carrier/infant seat has a bottom that can be strapped down and infant seat attaches to the carrier.
Straps/seat belts installed to hold carrier in place.

Otherwise........there is only a booth seat (dinette) and a 'couch'
in toter


Not a lot of options............better than what we survived thru as youngsters

since none of us have one, only the owner can answer any of this. The only place in my coach rated for an infant carrier is actually on the dinette seat since that's where the center restrain strap hook is located. Not what I would do, but that's where it is and there's no reason his wouldn't have that attachment somewhere either.

schlep1967 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
He's asking WHERE to install the carrier..

And I gave him a suggestion based on the toter home cab configuration

Between the captain chairs in cab.

Toter home is a SEMI cab with a 'sleeper' compartment (not just a sleeper but also living room/kitchen/bath -----an extended sleeper)

There is NO conventional place to put an infant carrier.
Less so then a motorhome.

SO new straps/belts properly mounted on floor to secure a quality infant carrier in cab

I normally agree with everything Biscuit says but not this time. A seat belt bolted to the floor alone will not work. Car seats (baby type) rely on the rest of the seat also when they are strapped in. Basically the belt holds it tight against the bottom seat and the back seat plus a tether that attaches above and behind the back seat..

Passenger seat is the way to go.

There are usually 2 seats in toter
Driver & Passenger
The car carrier/infant seat has a bottom that can be strapped down and infant seat attaches to the carrier.
Straps/seat belts installed to hold carrier in place.

Otherwise........there is only a booth seat (dinette) and a 'couch'
in toter


Not a lot of options............better than what we survived thru as youngsters

Old-Biscuit wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
He's asking WHERE to install the carrier..

And I gave him a suggestion based on the toter home cab configuration

Between the captain chairs in cab.

Toter home is a SEMI cab with a 'sleeper' compartment (not just a sleeper but also living room/kitchen/bath -----an extended sleeper)

There is NO conventional place to put an infant carrier.
Less so then a motorhome.

SO new straps/belts properly mounted on floor to secure a quality infant carrier in cab

I normally agree with everything Biscuit says but not this time. A seat belt bolted to the floor alone will not work. Car seats (baby type) rely on the rest of the seat also when they are strapped in. Basically the belt holds it tight against the bottom seat and the back seat plus a tether that attaches above and behind the back seat..

Passenger seat is the way to go.

rrev wrote:
.. a Freightliner toter home that pulls race car trailer while he's traveling racing.

Is he by any chance in So Cal right now?

SCVJeff wrote:
He's asking WHERE to install the carrier..

And I gave him a suggestion based on the toter home cab configuration

Between the captain chairs in cab.

Toter home is a SEMI cab with a 'sleeper' compartment (not just a sleeper but also living room/kitchen/bath -----an extended sleeper)

There is NO conventional place to put an infant carrier.
Less so then a motorhome.

SO new straps/belts properly mounted on floor to secure a quality infant carrier in cab

Actually some fire departments ARE certified by DOT as a station for 'installing' and explaining 'where' to place a baby car seat.

The NHTSA has put this service in place for parents across the USA.

Check the NHTSA's website for a list of certified baby car seat informational locations.

Fire departments and Police departments are used to "normal" cars when showing how to install infant seats - they may look at your rig with a blank expression,....

A Toterhome is nothing more than a truck. They know and have seen all types of trucks and have the knowledge as to where a car seat goes in a truck. What the truck is 'towing' means nothing in regards to placement of a baby car seat! :W

Based on my quick look at images for the Freightliner Toterhome. I'd have to see one in person, but barring that- I strongly recommend a different tow vehicle.

That toterhome is probably built on an M2 chassis. If it were my little one, that car seat would be strapped into the front passenger seat as it is the only seat (except for the driver's) built with a crash in mind. I believe those trucks did not have srs airbags, but if his has one, there should be a switch that he can use to turn it off.

michigansandzilla wrote:
Don't make or rig a seatbelt, that'll be disastrous in an accident.
He needs to use an infant car seat and buckle it into a passenger seat. It can't be behind an airbag (so no front seat ever for a baby) and it must face the back of the car for at least 1-2 years.

I'm pretty sure the only airbags that may exist on a Freightliner Toterhome would be between the axles and the rest of the chassis. The front passenger seat should be as safe as anywhere for a child seat.

SCVJeff wrote:
He's asking WHERE to install the carrier..

OP- don't know what that vehicle is, but wherever it's mounted it should be installed backwards facing into the seat. Any of the new carriers are built to be strapped in with conventional seat belts and come with shoulder belt securing clamps as well. Tell him to go to a place like Baby's R Us and talk to one of the moms that work there. This forum is about the last place to get good info on babies.

Well not really. LOL.