Children and Wheeling

sourbluff

sourbluff

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Bit of background so doesn’t seem odd why asking this when have owned LJ for few years. I am from Missouri but located in Manila PH for several years now. We bought LJ with plans to use it on regular trios to states and then Covid. PH was locked down super tight and my work (clinical trial management for vaccines) went crazy. So March will be our first time for family wheeling trip.

With that out of the way, my daughter is 6, 25kg, 123cm (55lb, 4ft). What precautions do I need to take to keep her safe?

Booster seat (?) and if so is one you recommend.

Any extra safety rules or things I should teach her before we hit trails?

Suggestions for keeping her engaged also greatly appreciated.
 
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My daughter started wheeling with me when she was 5. She was riding in a booster.

She seemed to fall asleep a lot on the trail so I’d find a booster that is comfortable for your daughter to take a nap in and be secure.

She says she loves to go wheeling now so it’s been good.
 
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sourbluff said:
Bit of background so doesn’t seem odd why asking this when have owned LJ for few years. I am from Missouri but located in Manila PH for several years now. We bought LJ with plans to use it on regular trios to states and then Covid. PH was locked down super tight and my work (clinical trial management for vaccines) went crazy. So March will be our first time for family wheeling trip.

With that out of the way, my daughter is 6, 25kg, 123cm (55lb, 4ft). What precautions do I need to take to keep her safe?

Booster seat (?) and if so is one you recommend.

Any extra safety rules or things I should teach her before we hit trails?

Suggestions for keeping her engaged also greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

That bench with no headrests is no good for neck support. I use the most protective seat type that they haven't outgrown yet, so my 38lb kid is still in a harnessed forward facing car seat and the 55lb is in a booster with a back. They both just use boosters in our other vehicles.

Probably use a cargo net if you plan to run without windows, to keep her from getting smacked with branches or worse, if you flopped it could keep her from reflexively sticking her arm out.
 
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I'm sure there's a specific federal law, or more, regarding what a 55lb, 4ft tall child needs. I don't know exactly what it (they) require but I bet whatever it is will do fine for her when off roading.

Here's how I met those requirements in 1997:
1977 CJ5 .jpg


For the record she was 13 months old and only going on-roading in that Jeep but her older brother went wheeling several times from 3 to 7 years old which, IIRC at the time, didn't require any booster seats but they probably would have been a good upgrade if they were even available.
 
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I tried to keep them in a harnessed booster for as long as possible in the Jeep when on the trails. Keeps them a little more secure and adds some neck/head support.

I use the spiderwebshades on the sides to keep the unexpected tree branches out.

My two boys like playing with matchbox cars along the way, particularly jeeps or trucks.
 
If you do happen to have them in the front seat make sure to disable your passenger side air bag.

My daughter started wheeling when she was 4 years old. She'd sleep thru a lot of the day. Also remember they can get cold more than you can.

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Plan on stopping more often and let them out to roam around some.

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They will find things to occupy their time too.

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red02tj said:
My 5yr old and 9yr old sit in
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDSVM2RN?tag=wranglerorg-20

Extra change of clothes / snacks
First aid kit with kid friendly supplies
Battery powered fan for top off days
Sun shade
Getting them involved in pre/post gear check and cleanup.
Replaced seatbelts with ones that have the locking retractors
Click to expand...

TY for the ideas.

With that seat even in booster mode you can still use the harness and is comfy?

Replaced rear seatbelts?
 
I would start with some simple fire roads and then build from there. Who knows they may not like it at all and you don't want to plan a day trip and find out they hate it after 15 minutes. Most kids do love it

You don't need them to get scared with you trying some difficult trails and not making it or getting stuck and having to winch out. Let them feel comfortable and safe with knowing dad can make over obstacles many times so when that time comes and you get stuck, you can say well we do get stuck once in awhile but its no big deal.

I agree with others

Have plenty of snacks, juice, water. Kids go from no I am not hungry to I am starving in less time than It takes you air down :ROFLMAO: so keep snacks east to get to. Also remember they do the same about bathroom breaks.

Kids do like to get dirty so I would add a change of clothes extra pair of shoes, and wipes. Make sure they are dressed properly, no flip flops or open toed shoes. Kids seam to get a lot more scratches and cuts than adults so have kid friendly bandages.

Stop and let them out often, if the top is off have sun block. Enjoy the time and memories you're building forever.
 
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I'll echo many of the things mentioned above. Lots of snacks, something to hold their head up when they snooze, some toys to play with (both in the Jeep and outside in the dirt).

My boy was a trooper! 30 hrs from Ohio to moab last spring. 2 long days there and back.

On the trail days we would keep it shorter only going out for 5-6 hrs. We also did a couple trail days then did a dinosaur day - looking at the fossils, footprints, and the Dino amusement park thing.

We also got him one of these trays for while in the car. He'd have his snacks, supplies, and drink all within arm's reach. On the trip there and back he was building Legos to pass the time!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079H46Y7Z?tag=wranglerorg-20

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sourbluff said:
TY for the ideas.

With that seat even in booster mode you can still use the harness and is comfy?

Replaced rear seatbelts?
Click to expand...

We’re still using it in harness mode, even for the 9yr old and I’ll keep her like that’s until she moves up to the front like my 12yr old. No 9yr old likes being in a car seat but neither kid has said no to a ride because of it.


Seatbelts https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/
 
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Kids & Jeeps are just loads of FUN period..

And yes I'd agree on the neck brace for when they are sleeping. I was always amazed at how much her head would bob and she'd never have a sore neck.
The booster seat I had also had the 5 point harness but it wasn't adjustable for her height so once she got past a certain point I started using the Jeep seatbelt.
 
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My advice is to keep the trip as short as possible. Bring lots of treats and snacks that the kids like, try to make it special day for them. I have 3 boys (10, 12, 15). They used to like going, and got sick of it because the day trips I go on are 'too long' for them. Though my wheeling trips are usually 8+ hours.

So bring the dog if you have one, outdoor toys, stuff for them to do when bored in the Jeep. If going with a group, see if you can organize a kid friendly trip so there's plenty of time to stop and run around a bit.
 
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