If you have kids that are still riding in a car seat, what are your options for RV’s? If you’re asking this, odds are that you are looking into renting or buying an RV and have kids/grandkids that are still in a car seat.

So a brief introduction to RV’s in general: there are two main types, motorhomes and towables. Within those, there are several categories. Motorhomes include Class A, which have a tour bus style appearance, Class C, which have a space over the driving area or cab, and Class B, also known as campervans. Towables include a variety of travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-ups, or teardrops. There’s also truck campers, which fall into their own separate category. This is a very basic overview and not comprehensive, but if the RV requires a tow vehicle, it is a towable, and if the driving compartment and engine is a part of the RV, it’s a motorhome. Here’s where this distinction matters: in general, motorhomes are not safe for kids still in car seats. This is very much a blanket statement, and there are exceptions, but if you are just starting your search for an RV and need a direction to look in, towables should be the first place you start.

What are the risks with motorhomes?

If you look at ads for RV’s, you’ll see many that say “Seats 5” or “Includes LATCH system”. Statements like these gloss over many other factors that are involved in car seat safety in RV’s. For one, RV’s are not crash tested to the same standard as passenger vehicles. Now the good news is that RV’s have a fatality rate of 1/3 the amount of passenger vehicles, meaning they can be considered safer, likely because the mileage is less as well as drivers being a bit more cautious when driving a bigger vehicle or towing.

For motorhomes specifically, aside from the two seats in the front, all other passenger seats are in the living area, where there is guaranteed to be a higher risk of projectiles in the event of an accident (all of the stuff that is cabinets and closets).

Additionally, other factors that make motorhome passenger seats unsafe for car seats even with seatbelts:

• If they are sideways facing
• If they are inside of a slide out
• If the seatbelt is anchored to the wood/tile/vinyl floor instead of the frame

So while there are a few motorhomes with a seat where the car seat will go is forward facing, not in a slideout, and the seat & seatbelt system is anchored to the frame, odds are not in your favor that a motorhome meets those requirements. If you have found one that meets those requirements, you should also read the owners manual fine print, because it will often say it is not recommended for a car seat, even if there is a LATCH system on that seat.

Best options for RVing with car seats

The safest option, hands down, is to have a towable style RV and have the car seats in the tow vehicle. Truck campers also fit this approach, as car seats would be in the truck as they would without the camper attached. Another very safe option is to have a completely separate vehicle from the RV, meaning two adults driving, one with the RV (motorhome or towable), and one with all the living passengers.

Regardless of what RV you choose, you also need to take these safety precautions:

• Performing pre-trip checks before every drive, including tire check, correct and secure towing system, and a walkaround the entire RV to make sure all items in and on the RV are secured for travel.
• Staying within the correct tow limits of your vehicle and not overloading your RV.
• Driving a safe speed and maintaining enough braking distance.
• General preventative maintenance on your RV minimizes the chance of something breaking on the road.
• Knowing what to do in case of an emergency and having the tools to address those emergencies.

If you are looking into buying an RV and need some guidance, or if you own an RV and are looking to better understand what preventative maintenance or safety steps you should be taking are, I can help.