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We just did a trip to and from Michigan with 2 kids, in our Explorer and had no issues finding space inside. And the Tahoe has more interior volume, you need to pack less

[quote=""DCIV""]Can you open the rear hatch? What do you do when you park overnight As those you can’t lock down can you? I also worry about the angle. Wrong angle with the avalanche and trailer hitch and I’m scraping the driveway.


Coop[/quote]

I believe they make lockable ones, but you may have to unload that at nighttime. I don't know if you'd be able to open the hatch or not, but I would suspect you couldn't.

[quote=""Chris GTO TT""]I get those fears, but Aaron's point is loading roof boxes on a full size suv is a major pain without a ladder.[/quote]

This, also most roof racks won't come close to the 500lbs a hitch mount carrier can handle.

[quote=""aaronatstate""]We just did a trip to and from Michigan with 2 kids, in our Explorer and had no issues finding space inside. And the Tahoe has more interior volume, you need to pack less
[/quote]

This. So much this. As a kid we went on two weeks vacation trips in a Volvo sedan with 2 adults, 2 kids and a Chow-Chow! And no roof box haha.

[quote=""alienviking""]This. So much this. As a kid we went on two weeks vacation trips in a Volvo sedan with 2 adults, 2 kids and a Chow-Chow! And no roof box haha.[/quote]

This is 2021 America, not mid 80s Europe

We need all the stuff while traveling. Though I think Coop went overboard.

We're lazy packing now and just take the truck now lol

Wait... You guys take trips?

Us? Yeah.

[quote=""DCIV""]We are on our first real trip with the Tahoe. Did the first leg of it from our house to Nashville (well Yuma) TN as one of our good friends bought 50 acres and is getting a farm together on it.

First. Traveling with two kids is crazy.

Second. We try to keep one of the 3rd row seats up as we need to attend the 7 week old we are taking and we need more storage. I am thing roof rack luggage but open to suggestions.

Third, I bought one of those range extenders. It just turns off the cyl deactivation. Yes I know it doesn’t solve the problem but if it’s not having to open and close as much you would think it might not be as big of deal later. Anyways, 325 miles and got 22.8 mpg. This was going up a mountain pretty much so I expect way better going home. I am pretty happy with that.

Other than that. Still a odd hard shake after a bump in the front. Not as bad as when we got it but still enough that it’s not right. Gonna look into new tires after winter and if that doesn’t fix it, new shocks.


Coop[/quote]

I get you on the traveling part with kids. We have 2 as well.

Not sure why you need 3rd row up. Isn't the 2nd row enough to hold everyone? Either way that's a big rig. We travel in my Ram around 1200 miles round trip and its plenty of space for all the kiddo gear, including the pack n play.

I also average about the same mpg with the MDS 5.7L. Why do you want to turn it off? Is yours not seamless? I don't even notice mine at work except for when the light is on.

So one seat on the 3rd row was up so we could sit with the 6 week old baby if need be. That’s where the space is taken up. Otherwise we would have plenty of room. Or if the baby was a little older we would have more.


Coop

[quote=""DCIV""]So one seat on the 3rd row was up so we could sit with the 6 week old baby if need be. That’s where the space is taken up. Otherwise we would have plenty of room. Or if the baby was a little older we would have more.


Coop[/quote]

We had the 3 year old in he 3rd row, forward facing in his car seat. Wife and baby in second row. Other seat in third row folded, but not stowed (Explorer has a well behind the 3rd row where the seats stow into flat). Stuff packed in everywhere, including the front passenger seat next to me as the driver. Got everything in no issue. Again, you need to pack less, or play more Tetris.

[quote=""aaronatstate""]We had the 3 year old in he 3rd row, forward facing in his car seat. Wife and baby in second row. Other seat in third row folded, but not stowed (Explorer has a well behind the 3rd row where the seats stow into flat). Stuff packed in everywhere, including the front passenger seat next to me as the driver. Got everything in no issue. Again, you need to pack less, or play more Tetris.[/quote]

Stuff on the front seat didn't piss off OCS?

[quote=""aaronatstate""]We had the 3 year old in he 3rd row, forward facing in his car seat. Wife and baby in second row. Other seat in third row folded, but not stowed (Explorer has a well behind the 3rd row where the seats stow into flat). Stuff packed in everywhere, including the front passenger seat next to me as the driver. Got everything in no issue. Again, you need to pack less, or play more Tetris.[/quote]

Apparently.


Coop

[quote=""vr4""]Stuff on the front seat didn't piss off OCS?[/quote]

Nope, the light for the passenger airbag stayed on off the whole time. It wasn't like it was 100lbs of stuff. Maybe 20lbs of stuff in the front seat. I'm not sure what the min weight is to trigger the airbag etc. to come on is in the Explorer, but it's at least 25lbs. because our "big dog" who is around 24-25lbs. rides up there and doesn't trigger the airbag.

[quote=""aaronatstate""]Nope, the light for the passenger airbag stayed on off the whole time. It wasn't like it was 100lbs of stuff. Maybe 20lbs of stuff in the front seat. I'm not sure what the min weight is to trigger the airbag etc. to come on is in the Explorer, but it's at least 25lbs. because our "big dog" who is around 24-25lbs. rides up there and doesn't trigger the airbag.[/quote]

It used to be something as simple as a large purse would throw an srs fault. Maybe they got smarter since then

[quote=""vr4""]It used to be something as simple as a large purse would throw an srs fault. Maybe they got smarter since then[/quote]

They must have, because I had about 30-40lbs in it, and there were zero issues. I wonder if they set the min weight at like 60lbs or something, because I think that is the typical industry standard for when a child doesn't need a booster seat anymore, and could in theory ride in the front seat.

[quote=""vr4""]It used to be something as simple as a large purse would throw an srs fault. Maybe they got smarter since then[/quote]

My phone triggers it in my car hah. And it isn't the weight, must be something else. Really weird.

[quote=""alienviking""]My phone triggers it in my car hah. And it isn't the weight, must be something else. Really weird.[/quote]

I think it depends on the type of sensor. Volvo's website said not to have a radio transmitter in the front seat

[quote=""DCIV""]So one seat on the 3rd row was up so we could sit with the 6 week old baby if need be. That’s where the space is taken up. Otherwise we would have plenty of room. Or if the baby was a little older we would have more.


Coop[/quote]

Is your 2nd row not a bench seat? In the truck we put the boys on the outer seats and my wife will hop over the front fold down seat to sit in the middle rear with the boys to help them out. Works find for us.

[quote=""ChargerX3""]Is your 2nd row not a bench seat? In the truck we put the boys on the outer seats and my wife will hop over the front fold down seat to sit in the middle rear with the boys to help them out. Works find for us.[/quote]

Our Explorer is captains chairs, and has the center counsel. Wife did hop over once to get into the back.

[quote=""ChargerX3""]Is your 2nd row not a bench seat? In the truck we put the boys on the outer seats and my wife will hop over the front fold down seat to sit in the middle rear with the boys to help them out. Works find for us.[/quote]

It is but that’s where the snacks, games, baby bag, and pumping bag are.

I took Aaron’s comment as a challenge. I made it soooo much better. I’m proud of myself. I think Aaron deserves a bottle of my wife’s side of the family wine though. It’s not like any wine you’ve ever had and we 12 bottles at my wedding. Was gone before we finished with after ceremony pics because it was THAT GOOD.


Coop

Same for us. We put all the snacks on the floor just in front of their seats. You can pack them in pretty good.

Glad to hear your daddy packing skills are improving