Hardcore wheeling post kids

[benjy]

I'm 2 months into this dad thing (with twin girls). Life has been different than anticipated. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it has me reevaluating our vehicle arrangement. We have an unlimited rubicon that serves as the minivan and mild wheeler. We also have the full retard jeep - v8, 40" stickies, etc.

We've already had the girls out wheeling a couple times in the Rubi, which I had a ton of fun doing, but tonight I feel like I'll never get the crawler out again for the foreseeable future (5ish years?) and I may as well sell it. If I wasn't into it more than double what I could get out, I'd just be listing it for sale and building a new one when I was ready again. I'm not really into solo wheeling, if I wasn't with the family I'd just buy a dirt bike.

So the question is - Anyone out there with a hardcore rig that wheels with the family? How old were the kiddos before you enjoyed it again?

 

[Jinx]

i think you remember wheeling with me and my oldest son and he wasn't three yet.

this week we are headed to Moab and three kids 4 and under. In January we did winter on the rocks with all the kids.

Yes it slows you down at first but then you get to share it the little ones which is pretty cool.

Hang in there, keep your rig. Just make sure you have a safe place to put your girls in the big rig.

 

[N-Smooth]

My son is almost 16 months old and I haven't taken him out. I've been to EJS, WOTR and a handful of trips to the snakes without him. I just wanted to wait until he's a little older. Now he's definitely old enough and we're planning something after EJS and he'll ride along. The way I see it is it's up to you to pick whether or not you enjoy your rig. It may get to the point that you'll have to do less insanely hardcore stuff and just do normal hardcore stuff... I dunno. A couple years ago on Pritchett there was a guy with twin girls in his buggy that were probably 18 months and one of them hated it. It's worth a shot I suppose. Even if my son doesn't like it I doubt my wife would let me get rid of my jeep cause it's just too important to me. If going wheeling means taking a couple days away from the fam here and there, so be it. If you'd rather have a dirtbike, that's your call

 

[TJDukit]

I love taking my kid on some tougher trails, she's six though. The new kid who is only 7 weeks old obviously hasn't been out yet. The JKUR is perfect for family wheeling but obviously has it's limitations when you are into the hardcore stuff. Honestly once the JK sells and I'm out of the wheeling scene for a few years my next step is likely a four seater buggy for the family. I just don't think my addiction could withstand anything less.

 

[jeeper]

Twin girls were our first also! They are a LOT of fun. Ours are 5 years old now, and have spent plenty of time in the jeep. I don't have a 'serious' rig, but weve done cliff hanger, hells, poison spider to gold bar, ect. They loved every minute of it.

I have made the mistake over and over again of trying to make our vehicles fit our situation. The problem is that the situation changes so quickly.
For example, sold my car (2 door hyundai) because the carseats didn't fit well. The kids were NEVER in my car, and it was just a one time thing, but it wouldn't have worked well if we needed it again. 4 months later they were in front facing seats that would have been fine in that same car.

I bought a camper that worked really well. The kids all slept together on the fold down bed. We were set... for 1 year. They grew and wouldn't all fit anymore.

Point is, every stage is short lived. making long term changes to a short term situation is pointless.

Enjoy them every minute. As soon as they realize that they can have their own opinion (age 3ish) it starts to get a little harder

 

[Troop92]

This is all good to hear - we go in for our induction tomorrow afternoon! Our first, and I can't wait until I can get him out on a trail with me!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

My wife told me I was crazy when I mentioned the possibility of selling the Jeep or the Miata when we have kids, probably because of the memories we had in them. So for now we will keep our 5 vehicles, but when the first baby comes we are replacing her Mazda 3 with a Subaru or a Ford Fusion.

 

[kmboren]

I am about as hard core as you can be without a buggy in a cherokee. I have always taken my kids out from 6 months old on. I actually think that starting them young helps them get use to it faster. My kids love it and not only enjoy the time with the family but playing on the rocks having fun with each other. If I feel its something I might roll on they get out with there and get back in when I'm done. Takes a little longer that way but still not a big deal and we get quality time together in nature.

 

[blznnp]

My wife hasn't let me take my kids out, still a little nervous, but this year will be the first time they go with me, 5 and 3 year old (almost 6 and 4). Will be taking them to Moab also. If we didn't have our fourth, the. We would be going down with the other three and my wife. Nash here has taken his boy out since he was 3 months old or something like that. I don't get to work on my blazer or get out much but if it was finished (the blazer) I am sure I would be taking them out a good amount more.

 

[Jinx]

Twin girls were our first also! They are a LOT of fun. Ours are 5 years old now, and have spent plenty of time in the jeep. I don't have a 'serious' rig, but weve done cliff hanger, hells, poison spider to gold bar, ect. They loved every minute of it.

I have made the mistake over and over again of trying to make our vehicles fit our situation. The problem is that the situation changes so quickly.
For example, sold my car (2 door hyundai) because the carseats didn't fit well. The kids were NEVER in my car, and it was just a one time thing, but it wouldn't have worked well if we needed it again. 4 months later they were in front facing seats that would have been fine in that same car.

I bought a camper that worked really well. The kids all slept together on the fold down bed. We were set... for 1 year. They grew and wouldn't all fit anymore.

Point is, every stage is short lived. making long term changes to a short term situation is pointless.

Enjoy them every minute. As soon as they realize that they can have their own opinion (age 3ish) it starts to get a little harder

This is too true!

 

[Cascadia]

We took my 2 year old boy out with us in Moab in the YJ. We were planning on doing more hard core trails with him in but we just didn't have time with the dirt bikes and road race. He still loved it and smiled and laughed and enjoyed it until he was rocked to sleep for 2.5 hours. I didn't think that would be possible but it happened. As long as I have the jeep I will try and take him with me. But I sure do enjoy my dirt bike and getting out on short trips and outings that don't take the whole day of loading, wrenching, and possible repairs.

 

[ChestonScout]

Make the wheeler more family friendly. Im sure 2 car seats could fit in the back seat.


I had my boy in the Scout when he was 4 months old. Had his head and neck supported good. The only time he cried is when we stopped moving!


It does make wheelin different. Even now that hes 4 I still hit stuff different with him in it. I wont shy away from hard trails but I guess I just drive a little smarter and slower. But watching him have fun, making memories, and cheering his Dad on makes it all worth it

 

[pkrfctr]

My boys go with me about 90‰ of the time. My oldest was just a few months old the first time he ran the snakes. They do get out anytime they get uncomfortable, which is about the 70‰ chance of roll threshold. I learned early not to force them to stay in once they're scared. Taking them does pose some challenges! I get jokes all the time for having a diaper box in the back window, but they fit perfect! Just make sure you bring an external garbage sack, nobody wants to jeep with a dirty diaper inside. I also make sure and buy the best car seats I can afford, cheap insurance if we ever need them, ones with head support are a must as they'll get jostled around a lot. We also found that if mom sits in back with the youngest, until they're 3ish, really helps.
My boys love it, the youngest wants to use the jeep anytime he has to go anywhere.

 

[AaronPaige]

I have been taking my baby girl out with me since she was 4 months ( just how old she was when Easter and good weather hit). This pic was taken at readers ride 2012 and I got so many complements on making it a family sport, she loves to go and is now 3 years old and asks to work on the buggy daily... It takes some custom work and planning to have that small of kids in a hard core rig but I've never been so proud... Do a little planning and enjoy

 

[benjy]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, this is very helpful!

i think you remember wheeling with me and my oldest son and he wasn't three yet.

I do, and I remember he did awesome!

Twin girls were our first also! They are a LOT of fun. Ours are 5 years old now, and have spent plenty of time in the jeep. I don't have a 'serious' rig, but weve done cliff hanger, hells, poison spider to gold bar, ect. They loved every minute of it.

Point is, every stage is short lived. making long term changes to a short term situation is pointless.

Twins has been a crazy ride for sure. Great advice on long term changes to short term problems.

This is all good to hear - we go in for our induction tomorrow afternoon! Our first, and I can't wait until I can get him out on a trail with me!

Good luck, that's a day I will never forget Let us know how it goes!

I am about as hard core as you can be without a buggy in a cherokee. I have always taken my kids out from 6 months old on. I actually think that starting them young helps them get use to it faster.

We're planning to do mild wheeling in the JKUR this spring/summer, then introduce them to the TJ later in the summer. Between me and their mom, wheeling is in their blood. If they don't like it, we're in trouble!

Make the wheeler more family friendly. Im sure 2 car seats could fit in the back seat.

Good point. I'm going to have to do some shopping around for good seats. We currently have a bench seat back there, but I think they need dedicated seats.

 

[benjy]

View attachment 90364 I have been taking my baby girl out with me since she was 4 months ( just how old she was when Easter and good weather hit). This pic was taken at readers ride 2012 and I got so many complements on making it a family sport, she loves to go and is now 3 years old and asks to work on the buggy daily... It takes some custom work and planning to have that small of kids in a hard core rig but I've never been so proud... Do a little planning and enjoy

That's awesome!

 

[AaronPaige]

Glad you think so too... My buggy was in the build stage when we found out we were expecting so I just made a little more room and never looked back, I agree with what's been said be ready for way more than normal and lots of neck support but you can still enjoy I do,

 

[jeep-N-montero]

View attachment 90364 I have been taking my baby girl out with me since she was 4 months ( just how old she was when Easter and good weather hit). This pic was taken at readers ride 2012 and I got so many complements on making it a family sport, she loves to go and is now 3 years old and asks to work on the buggy daily... It takes some custom work and planning to have that small of kids in a hard core rig but I've never been so proud... Do a little planning and enjoy

Cool picture, you see this monster of a motor with a cute baby in pink sitting behind it.

 

[AaronPaige]

Thanks, that pic was on area bfe site for ever and now it's on crawlmag.com but everywhere we go people are shocked to see a little girl riding along...

 

[UPNO4]

My kids have been wheeling since before they were a year old now it is just in their blood. I took many years before they realized the Easter Bunny could find them somewhere other the Moab. I have been a bad parent and haven't taken them to big weekend of EJS for so long they forgot. But this year it is changing we decided to go both weekends. My kids won't let me go with out them, I have to sneek out in order to do it.