I'm confused: Why would you want to disable the passenger side airbag just because the occupants are under the age of 12?
In the Ford owner's manual, there are several places where it says When possible, children under 12 should be in the rear seats...
But, there is an entire paragraph which says,
WARNING: Front seat positions only: If seating two adults and a child, Ford recommends properly restraining the child in the center front seating position, but only if doing so will not interfere with driving the vehicle. This arrangement provides lap and shoulder belt and airbag protectionfor an adult occupant and an attachment method for a child restraint. If the child seat interferes with driving the vehicle and the child restraint is forward-facing, the child may be restrained in the passenger seat. Move the seat as far rearward as possible to minimize the likelihood of interaction with the front passenger airbag. Never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. Always properly restrain all occupants, including the child in an appropriate child seat or booster.
But personally, as one of six kids, I can't imagine being crammed into a pickup three-across for a long trip. I grew up with full size vans from the time we had my third sibling through sibling number five. Vans are IMHO the way to go for long-distance trips.
