Offroad with Kids?

cmyTJ

Active Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Location
Raleigh
So, I have had my Jeep for 11 years now and have been offroading in NC for over 15 years but I am hoping to try something new: taking my girl(s) with me. My oldest is 4.5 years, my middle is 2, and my youngest is 2 months. Yeah not going with the baby.

Questions about offroading with kids:
1) requirements for kids on trails
2) Age suggestion for taking kids (don't want to take them before they are ready or can handle it)
3) Type of restraints/car seats for kids
4) Other suggestions/comments are welcome please.

Key goal here is to get my kids into going offroading and camping so my wife will be more willing to let me go and let me spend money on the Jeep;) Well really, most important thing is I want to keep my kids safe and let them have fun too!

Thanks - Chris
 
I took my (then) 2yo wheeling with me on a vacation back to CO. He slept the entire way. The 4.5 yo might enjoy it. My son is now 6 and he loves to go. Just put 'em in the car seat and go. Obviously don't go for the hardest trails unless there is a bypass.
 
strap them both into their car seats in the jeep, make sure to have neck support for both kids. Go have slow fun don't scare them the first time out & you will all have a lot of future fun to come.
 
I have always taken my boys. Properly restrained. Now they wear helmets as well. Started when they were babies. Now 8 and 11.
 
My boys (6 and4) have wheeled with me a ton. My 4 year old has wheeled since he was walking, He loves it.

My 4 year old is still in a Car seat strapped in, The 6 year old is in a booster with factory belts. I have the rear of the Jeep set up for harnesses for when there a little older (when there both in boosters).

There aren't regulations on age limits for passengers at say URE or a public OHV, Just as long as you follow the same rules as the paved roads. Places like the Flats and Glutchs have rules as far as what trails there allowed on, Which are the more extreme trails that your more than likely not going to want take them on anyway.
 
I've taken my boy since he was 3 and now he is 6 - loves it.
Dudes are right - go slow make sure there is neck support and youll be surprised how often they fall asleep - gentle rocking.
So keep an eye back at 'em and make sure they aint doing the head-drop sleepin - ya know what I mean. Because the next day that neck is gonna hurt = lots of whining.
I took my GF's kids up Daniel yesterday - 6 and 3 years old.
They like it but I keep reminding the fraidy-cat 6 year old ;)
that I wouldnt take her up nothing I think would get us in trouble.
That being said - you'll know when to take the kids out.
But URE most places dont have to worry about.
I don't know about regulations anywhere else or even that there are rules except obvious private parks.
 
Thanks for all of the feedback. It is pretty much what I was thinking but I figured this is a great place to get advice. My girls seem to be getting ready. I think they can handle the easier trails at URE. At least I know URE pretty well, I have been offroading there since my Jeep was bone stock off the car lot. I took my oldest snowmobiling in Wyoming last winter and she fell asleep after about 2 minutes so I can definitely see them falling asleep on a nice summer day bouncing around!
 
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