Kids and Trucks some ???

[Frkypunk70]

Have a couple of questions. I have 4.5 year old twin girls and was wondering if its possible to have them ride in my truck. I still have a bench seat with lap belts and question whether or not this is safe or, on a lesser note if "the man" will give me problems. Or better yet what are you guys doing or modifications done to facilitate this. I really want them to be a part of my hobby. Thanks Tim , Oh and heres a pic of them ...cause you know you can't talk to a parent without them showing you a pic.

[bosco200]

Do they still ride in a booster seat or anything?

[Frkypunk70]

Yes, they still ride in booster seats...but booster seats are only used because of the shoulder harness being to high. My 70 doen't have shoulder harness though. But Its all a grey area to me.

[GCncsuHD]

Cute kids!

It varies from state to state, so look up your state's laws...

But here in NC, If the child is under 80lbs and 8 years old they must still ride in a booster seat. If the vehicle has no shoulder belts, and the child is over 40lbs they can ride with just the lap belt. Under that and they need a seat. Also any truck older than 72 is exempt from these laws, as is any car older than 68.

I would double check your state laws, then from there do anything you feel will keep them safe. I grew up with the R.A.R.S. (Right Arm Restraint System) and I survived, but these days I would do anything to keep a child of mine safe.

[bosco200]

So you have lap belts.....don't booster seats work with lap belts?

[bosco200]

Here Hope this helps.....http://www.buckleupnc.org/laws_cps.cfm

[Tuff Gong]

I let my 6 year old ride with me all the time. My parents did a whole lot worse to me as I was growing up. I think it comes down to whether or not you feel OK with it. Just my 2 cents.

[Frkypunk70]

I feel like they are less safe with the booster and the lap belt as opposed to just the lap belt.

[Frkypunk70]

Originally Posted by Brian Atkinson

I let my 6 year old ride with me all the time. My parents did a whole lot worse to me as I was growing up. I think it comes down to whether or not you feel OK with it. Just my 2 cents.

I know what you mean. My mom had a 74 Caddy Eldorado and it was a playground in the back of that thing. I even remember crawling up on the rear dash as a kid Boy times have changed.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by bosco200

Here Hope this helps.....http://www.buckleupnc.org/laws_cps.cfm

How is an explanation of North Carolina laws going to help him in Pennsylvania?

[nate_g_2003]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

Cute kids!

I would double check your state laws, then from there do anything you feel will keep them safe. I grew up with the R.A.R.S. (Right Arm Restraint System) and I survived, but these days I would do anything to keep a child of mine safe.

Hahaha it took me a minute to figure out what that was, but I actually grew up with it too!

[CG]

My granddaughter is five and she loves to ride in grandpas big green truck. I put her car seat in there held in with the trucks lap belt. The car seat also has a strap that comes off of the top that has a locking hook on it. I bring that all the way down to hook on the underside of the bench.

I asked her how come she likes riding in the truck. She said its the only time she ever gets to ride in the front. Every other car or truck she rides in is a late model four door of some sort.

[Steve Hafner]

The "Good-old-days" weren't always so good - were they !!!

[Cole Trickle]

Originally Posted by CG

My granddaughter is five and she loves to ride in grandpas big green truck. I put her car seat in there held in with the trucks lap belt. The car seat also has a strap that comes off of the top that has a locking hook on it. I bring that all the way down to hook on the underside of the bench.

I asked her how come she likes riding in the truck. She said its the only time she ever gets to ride in the front. Every other car or truck she rides in is a late model four door of some sort.

x2....

My 2 y/o loves riding in Yeller.

[AirSpeed]

When I was a kid we used to ride around in the back of the truck! In fact when I was 7 or 8 I used to ride around in the back of my grandfathers truck which is now mine. These days it's against the law to even let a dog ride in the back unless it's hooked in.
I'm sure such laws have saved a lot of kids lives but we sure had a lot of fun riding around back there! I miss the good old days!
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[Frkypunk70]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

When I was a kid we used to ride around in the back of the truck! In fact when I was 7 or 8 I used to ride around in the back of my grandfathers truck which is now mine. These days it's against the law to even let a dog ride in the back unless it's hooked in.
I'm sure such laws have saved a lot of kids lives but we sure had a lot of fun riding around back there! I miss the good old days!
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Maybe I could get some old subaru brat rumble seats and mount them in my box.

[cdowns]

all the kids i grew up with rode in pickups with no seatbelts and in the box// dont ever remember any of them dyin from the experience

[BlackTopMotors]

I used/use (for the two youngest) child safety seats, make sure they were/are secure and off we went/go.

As they got older/met the state requirements here, I just buckle them up. Still a good bit steel on our trucks. Good times!

[bosco200]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

How is an explanation of North Carolina laws going to help him in Pennsylvania?

O are those for North Carolina?....I thought they were just the basic laws, my bad.

[NC67Chev]

Being the parent of 7 and 5 year olds, I would not let my kids ride with the lap belts. In my opinion, the legality of it should not be the most important question. Instead, ask yourself if it you think it's safe or not! I rigged up a booster a couple of times so my oldest could ride with me some, but it didn't take me long to feel like I was doing something unsafe. This is of course my opinion, which probably isn't worth much.

[Classic Heartbeat]

You can purchase shoulder harness seat belts, but that only takes care of one of your two beutiful girls. how about a car seat that is buckled in with a lap belt but has it's own restraints mounted to it. Just an idea. WES

[Frkypunk70]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

You can purchase shoulder harness seat belts, but that only takes care of one of your two beutiful girls. how about a car seat that is buckled in with a lap belt but has it's own restraints mounted to it. Just an idea. WES

That's my whole problem there is no way to make sure both of my children are totally safe. I wish there was a way to enjoy my truck with my girls. Unfortunately my girls just wave goodbye when I leave in my truck.
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[ChevLoRay]

When I had my '65 C-10, and I was raising a 2-yr old daughter by myself, I had the only kind of car seat that was available. It was the kind that had two "legs" that slipped between the seat cushion and seat back and that was it. Anywhere we went, that's the way she rode. As for me and my sibs, we grew up without seat belts, bicycle helmets and so forth.

I'm not going to say that we don't need to protect our children. We do it because we love them. That fact won't change. We do whatever we have to do to ensure their safety. Yep, whatever it takes.

[Frkypunk70]

Well there is one solution that hasn't been brought up. Get a blazer or a suburban. I keep thinking of getting a old chevy wagon but I'm still not sure that fixes my problem. I guess I will just play it day by day.
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[Hubscrub]

even in a late model truck the middle only uses a lap belt, i don't see a huge issue with it. I rode in a 71 all my young life never even wore a seatbelt and also rode it the back as much as the front. The wife and i WILL NOT deny our kids from the fun of cruisin to the shows to cruise ins or just out for a drive in our old iron life is to short in my op.