You need a roof storage unit from Yakima or Thule.

If you can manage to squeeze everyone into an SUV, when a minivan would be much more comfortable and convenient, what prize do you win? What will you have proven?

Just get the minivan.

We have an Infiniti QX 80. We have 3 car seats and have been transporting 3 adults recently. I have been stuck in the third row since the other adult gets car sick. It’s honestly not bad and I have plenty of leg room (I’m 5’8). It’s a big SUV but I enjoy driving it. Cargo room isn’t horrible. We can fit a jogging stroller back there and a few odds and ends with all 3 rows up.

Anonymous wrote:I have a highlander and have done this to go to the beach. We needed to use our roof box for additional cargo and I was the adult stuck in the back*. It was MISERABLE. Don’t do it, OP. Get a Surburban or use two cars. A minivan *might* work depending on cargo space.

We have captains chairs and two car seats, so we did two adults up front, one car seat and one bigger kid in the middle row and one small car seat (booster) and one adult in the back. Completely and totally awful.

I second this as the adult who has sit in the third row of our Pilot and Highlander. Absolutely miserable…

Anonymous wrote:Also get Radian 80 narrow car seats for middle row

These

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/diono-radian-3r-all-in-one-convertible-car-seat?ID=3805100&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC-_-GMM3+-+YW+-+Young+World-_-All+Other+Kids+Categories-_-677726506200USA-_-go_cmp-13050329456_adg-122793081803_ad-525834853608_pla-1293999527013_dev-m_ext-_prd-677726506200USA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyY__gKnr9QIVl-SzCh0ZhAnXEAQYAiABEgKnwPD_BwE


One on side, one in middle, then adult next to it.

Also get Radian 80 narrow car seats for middle row

We have a pilot, but a minivan makes most sense.

But 2 adults in front, one adult in rear with two kids, and then one kid in jump seat configuration of 3rd row. Then you have a pretty big area to store duffel bags for weekend.

I’m confused. If you are going to your own vacation home, why bringing so much stuff? Just have stuff there.

Cargo box is helpful.

Suburban is a travesty and way over kill for a family of 5 with a nanny/grandma in tow.

Anonymous wrote:I will never understand the minivan hate. It is literally designed for what you need and can do it comfortably.

+1 it’s such a more efficient and comfortable use of space than an SUV.

I will never understand the minivan hate. It is literally designed for what you need and can do it comfortably.

I have a highlander and have done this to go to the beach. We needed to use our roof box for additional cargo and I was the adult stuck in the back*. It was MISERABLE. Don’t do it, OP. Get a Surburban or use two cars. A minivan *might* work depending on cargo space.

We have captains chairs and two car seats, so we did two adults up front, one car seat and one bigger kid in the middle row and one small car seat (booster) and one adult in the back. Completely and totally awful.

A Highlander would work but the adult in the far back seat would be pretty miserable

You need a Suburban. A Tahoe might possibly work too.

I think you need to plan for two vehicles to get to your weekend home.

With a growing family, we're soon going to need a car that can transport 3 adults and 3 kids in car seats. Around town seems fairly easy, but the trick is that we'd like to move everyone roughly once a month to our weekend house and back, requiring luggage, etc.

We would really like to get a car like a Volvo XC90, Mercedes GLS, Honda Pilot, or VW Atlas. We'd get captains chairs for two car seats in the middle, and then a third car seat and adult in the rear. This is a great option for around town. But with the third row up, each lacks much storage space, and we worry about getting away for weekends. Does anyone regularly move a comparable family + stuff in a car like this? If so, does it give you enough room?

The alternatives, it seems, are larger trucks (Suburban/Escalade/??) or minivans. As to minivans, perhaps we'll get there kicking and screaming, but we really want to avoid the minivan if at all possible.

Has anyone been able to get something like an XC90 to work for a family of this size, or do we need to give in and something in the suburban/escalade/minivan? If we have to give in, what's the best option? Thank you in advance!