Travelling with three kids in Prado

[Croozer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Croozer]

As the title suggests, how do members with three kids find the size of the Prado 150 when travelling? Is it a squeeze/plentiful and what tricks have you learnt over time with fitting three kids? I've three kids, 4, 2 and 10 months (tv doesn't get great reception up here!) and am wondering how we'll go with fitting the three of them across the back seat plus camping/travelling gear. I haven't had an opportunity to trial three car seats in the rear of a Prado (and unfortunately don't have an easy means of getting to a dealership to do so) so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Don't have three kids but have traveled with three. The back is reasonably wide but what makes it more bearable is the excellent rear legroom.

You can travel with just one of the 3rd row seats up, but it doesn't leave much room for luggage. The Prado doesn't have a lot of luggage space to start with, partly because of the floor height lost to the 3rd row seats.

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

2 kids and a grandmother does that count ?

If we have a lot of luggage then the three sit in the middle seats, a bit squishy but nothing too bad. If not a lot of luggage then leave one rear seat in the back for the oldest and put the luggage next to him and in between the middle row passengers on the floor if needed. Best thing is I put some DVD head rests on the front seats so they can watch all there movies and we can travel in relative piece.
Also, by separating the two kids you don't get the usual "stay on your side" or "she's looking at me" rubbish the love doing.

[Guest Close Guest]

The 120 would have more room in the back for all the gear.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Have you thought about towing a trailer? Doesn't need to be a camper trailer, just a solid trailer with appropriate springs and a dust proof cover. I see over loaded fourbys all the time and I wonder why they don't add the extra axle of a trailer, have plenty of space and take a load of the vehicle.

With the Prado being an 8 seater if luggage is in the trailer you have oodles of room the tin lids.

Cheers Andrew

[Chewbacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chewbacca]

I have 2 kids still in car seats in a 150 and once the kids seats are in there is not much room in the middle. We have had people squeeze in between the two car seats but not sure if you would have room for a third seat? Maybe look at some of the smaller booster seat options for your 4 year old as these seats are not as wide.
Other than that the luggage room is not too bad. We use a luggage pod on the roof which helps.
Cheers Matt.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

I've got a 120 but 3 kids 6,4,8weeks. I don't think the seat space changes much between models.

For daily use we use one of the 3rd row. We have instigated a rule of swapping the two eldest each trip as the both want to sit in the back.

For trips away we fit two boosters and a rear facing capsule across the back no problems but do have a slimline booster for the middle seat. It's a right PITA to get the seatbelts done up though. I have to pull the middle booster across to fit the belt whilst leaning over from the front seat, then slide it across to fit the door side seat. (If that makes sense)

Once the capsule goes should be easier. Also when the eldest hits 7 we can ditch a booster seat so it should be easier

Load space is no different with two or three kids in the middle row as we have a cargo barrier and a roof basket. It takes it all comfortably just got to learn to pack light.

We have done a 3 hour each way journey twice since the youngest was born. Kids don't mind at all. But we do the same trip every 1-2 months to visit the outlaws and they've been doing it since they were two weeks old. So they're used to it

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

I 2nd AJ120's comments...

I have a 120 and the last trip to Kingaroy my FIL joined us so it was forward facing baby seat and a toddler seat either side... him in the middle. I wouldn't say it was uncomfortable but I think he was glad to stretch his legs when we had a break at Kilcoy (1.5 hrs)
I have a cargo barrier and it was loaded to the roof that trip with port-a-cot and prams as well as all the usual stuff so if I was camping I'd tow a trailer. Also means you'll be able to carry more water for kids baths etc.

[netarch Member Find all posts View Profile Close netarch]

Three is a hard slog especially if you need to go for a while and take recovery equipment and tools.

We have three older kids (15,13,11) and it is a challenge to get all of the required camping equipment, recovery equipment, and food, etc. It is possible to do it with just the car though I think that a trailer/camper would be the go.

The first thing is a cargo barrier so u can fill up the back to the brim. We used a roof box (a hang over from our old commodore wagon which we did a 5 week trip to Perth and back in it with the kids when they were your kids age) for a while though their shape and their rigid structure does limit what u can put in them.

Currently we have a rhino platform and a roof bag this gives us a lot more space as the roof bag is heaps more flexible with what can be store in it, and we still have some space on the platform for mounting other things. With this setup we were able to camp for the duration of last the GTG though we didn't have all of the luxuries that others enjoyed. Also with a 60l ARB fridge in the back space was very limited.

Also be careful with what u put in the roof bag, ours is a canvas one and when full and in the rain, items in it can still get wet. I would recommend putting some of the gear that goes in the roof bag into water proof bags as a precaution as a wet sleeping bag for a few days isn't the most pleasant experience.

My Wife also trained the kids to sleep well in the car, though regular stops and in car entertainment is a must overall.

We also have removed the 6/7 seats out of the back as we thought they were not practical for the larger kids to use for any length of time. This also gives us a little extra room in the back to store things.

Good luck with it but you would be hard pressed to find something more comfortable than the Prado for a family your size.

[Lewie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lewie]

I've got a 120 but 3 kids 6,4,8weeks. I don't think the seat space changes much between models.

For daily use we use one of the 3rd row. We have instigated a rule of swapping the two eldest each trip as the both want to sit in the back.

For trips away we fit two boosters and a rear facing capsule across the back no problems but do have a slimline booster for the middle seat. It's a right PITA to get the seatbelts done up though. I have to pull the middle booster across to fit the belt whilst leaning over from the front seat, then slide it across to fit the door side seat. (If that makes sense)

Once the capsule goes should be easier. Also when the eldest hits 7 we can ditch a booster seat so it should be easier

Load space is no different with two or three kids in the middle row as we have a cargo barrier and a roof basket. It takes it all comfortably just got to learn to pack light.

We have done a 3 hour each way journey twice since the youngest was born. Kids don't mind at all. But we do the same trip every 1-2 months to visit the outlaws and they've been doing it since they were two weeks old. So they're used to it

We have a rear facing capsule a forward facing capsule and a slim line booster in the middle. A 30mm seat belt extender solved the problem of struggling to do the middle seat belt up. I got it from http://www.seatbeltking.com.au/ eventually after the first one apparently got lost by the courier.

[2impulsiv Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 2impulsiv]

We had three kids seats in our Captiva LX7 and did over 20k last year traveling between Tasmania and Northern Western Australia towing a camping trailer. The car was full with clothes, food and the Engels. Now we have a new Prado it's noticeable how much more space the kids have! They love it and traveling now is more enjoyable for all.....

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

We have a 120 which about the same size of 150 (maybe even bit bigger in the back)
Rear sets removed for draws, cargo barrier, fridge etc.
We have 3 kids, with 2 still in seats in the 2nd row. They do fit but you wouldn't want it any smaller. We found a slimline toddler seat that frees up a bit more space. Baby capsules are the space eaters. The middle seat is just usable but not a lot of spare room.
We have a full length ARB rack and it is a godsend when camping. All the bulky stuff goes up there. Beer, gas bottle, beer, tent, toys, beer, and a spacecase for anything we want to keep guaranteed dry like bedding.
Clothes and cooking gear is in the back above the draws with the fridge and water tank.
For us it works well and we don't need to tow a camper trailer.
Once they start getting out of car seats it does free up some room. But you can see why people go to a 200 Series for the extra space.
Cheers
Robert

[BigBadDraino Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigBadDraino]

Hey does the 150 7 seater have child seat attachments in the 3rd row? I can't see any so I guess not.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

No..

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[BigBadDraino Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigBadDraino]

Cheers