Want to Buy a Suburban But Cant Get Past This...

[schaffer05]

If I were that worried about how many people I could fit, I'd buy a 15 passenger van, or the suburban with the front bench too.

If we were to travel with the grandparents they would have to drive their own vehicle, or I'd drive one and my wife would drive the other.


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[GTNator]

If I were that worried about how many people I could fit, I'd buy a 15 passenger van, or the suburban with the front bench too.

If we were to travel with the grandparents they would have to drive their own vehicle, or I'd drive one and my wife would drive the other.


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Thank you for your advice. However I don't need to carry 15 people. As I mentioned, I have 5 most of the time and sometimes 7. Grandparents in my household have to fly to get to my house so they can't just take their own car. We don't have the luxury of living close to grandparents.

And when the grandparents are here we travel about 350 miles together. It's not a short trip to McDonalds, so taking two cars is not ideal.

 

[schaffer05]

Thank you for your advice. However I don't need to carry 15 people. As I mentioned, I have 5 most of the time and sometimes 7. Grandparents in my household have to fly to get to my house so they can't just take their own car. We don't have the luxury of living close to grandparents.

And when the grandparents are here we travel about 350 miles together. It's not a short trip to McDonalds, so taking two cars is not ideal.

Well if you only need up to 7 what do you need center bench for? Not being a wise guy, but I'd do what the other guy said and run with the grandparents in the captains and kids in the back. They'll fit comfortably, and grandparents will be comfortable and have their own space as well.


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[PWMac]

You could always go the custom route.

 

[GTNator]

You could always go the custom route.

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That's awesome!

 

[swathdiver]

Thank you for your suggestion. How old are your kids? I'm wondering up to what age would they still be comfortable traveling long distances in the third row?

Now they are 21, 15 and 13. When I was a kid there were 3 of us in the backseat of my Dad's Toyota Corolla and later Olds Cutlass. We traveled for weeks every summer in those cars.

My Pontiac Montana's have more leg room in their 3rd rows. My father and I can sit back there comfortably together and he's 6'2".

For me the trouble with the 2nd row bench is that it doesn't recline. My kids' backs were hurting by the end of the test drives.

 

[Fosscore]

Suburban with captain's chairs FTW. Both sets of grandparents live far away. We put them in the captain's chairs or mothers in front, kids in the back. We have packed that truck so full of stuff to go camping with 5 people, that everyone had a bag between their legs and no one was uncomfortable.

I grew up with my 2 brothers in the middle vinyl bench seat of many Suburbans. That extra cargo room and having the accessibility to the 3rd row is a major plus in my book. Having the captain's chairs when it's just the kids and the dog, make it super easy for space and the "I'm not touching you" wars!

 

[cardude2000]

For me the trouble with the 2nd row bench is that it doesn't recline.

You mean the second or third row bench? My second row bench reclines...

 

[Rdr854]

I'm curious, did you get captains chairs in the second row? If yes/no are you happy with your decision?

8 passenger with second and third row bench seats in all three of my Suburbans.

Easier for hauling kids and stuff when the seats are folded down.

 

[swathdiver]

You mean the second or third row bench? My second row bench reclines...

Yes, the second row bench on the Suburbans and Yukon XLs we test drove. They were years 2008 through 2011.

 

[GTNator]

8 passenger with second and third row bench seats in all three of my Suburbans.

Easier for hauling kids and stuff when the seats are folded down.

Thanks. So for your 3 boys who as you mentioned are all over 6 ft. tall, how do you seat them on those long trips without the captains seats? Do you put one in the back and keep the middle seat on the second row empty?

 

[Rdr854]

Thanks. So for your 3 boys who as you mentioned are all over 6 ft. tall, how do you seat them on those long trips without the captains seats? Do you put one in the back and keep the middle seat on the second row empty?

It was three across the second row. The third row had jackets and goodies.

What kept peace was the DVD player.

When we drop the boys off at college in a few weeks, the third row will be folded down and they will only have the option of the second row.

I can also get them in the back seat of a Ford Fusion -- Chevy Cruze not so much!