This will be the first summer with my son, Scout - just wondering if some of you brought youngins on the trail. I am about to sign up for Sierra Trek and debating bringing the kiddo..

Any tips for the new Dad? Thinking a new roll cage is in order, and moving Scout to the back. I took him for his first (6 months old) jeep ride today - he fell asleep in about 2 minutes :rolleyes:

Guess he needs more action! ;)

Depends on the kid. I take my little ones in the jeep all the time - necer one that little though.

I have such a rediculous amount of tubing in the back of my cage so that I am sure they are safe, along with 4 pt harnesses. As long as they've got lots of water and snacks, and every thing is tied down they stay happy.

And they all fall asleep even when they're covered in mud;)

http://www.oldjeep.com/images/parockers/C15_Img.jpg

that is a great pic!

"- necer one that little though. "

I couldn't translate that ;)

Originally posted by Brandon
that is a great pic!

"- necer one that little though. "

I couldn't translate that ;)


Should have said "never one that little" meaning I think the youngest kid I've put in the jeep for a trailride was 2 year old. But no reason a baby wouldn't be OK as long as they're safe and well fed;)

my feeling is that once the baby is old enough to hold up their head and if you make damn sure the carseat provides enough head and neck protection you're fine. You don't want their head flopping around at ALL tho, you could cause serious damage. those car seat inserts that provide a closer fit around the head and neck are probably a very good idea.

This is a topic that's near and dear to me since my wife is pregnant right now, and we do our offroading as a family thing, so I'm going to be taking a break for a while... time for more garage projects (doubler, anyone? :D)

Instead of taking a break I just got another rig with a back seat :)

I have definately changed my fourwheeling outlook - I will continue to build my rigs but I'll be happy as a clam to go anywhere.

When I was a baby my parents took me, not that I can remember but it didn't hurt me - other than making me a full blown addict he he

I would not attempt a new "tough" trail with the kiddo. I know many of the trails (including fordyce) very well, I know anything can happen still but I am not going in blind.

I figured the Sierra Trek was a perfect first real trail since it is one of those big hurry up n wait things.

This is the trail - but I probably won't do it at night ;)

http://www.rivercityrockcrawlers.com/TrailReports/Fordyce/Fordyce9.JPG

My three year old son loves it, last time we went to Carnegie, he complained the entire time that there weren't any rocks :D He also has a higher tolerance for pucker factor. You should consider wheeling with others that have kids or friends that are Pro-kid, as you'll need to stop more often for breaks. Also I've found that when wheeling with other families everyone looks out for the kids, makes the job of keeping them out of trouble easier.

he will be about 11 months old at the time I want to go on the trail, lucky if he is crawlin then :)

Originally posted by Brandon
lucky if he is crawlin then :)

Lucky:question: I don't know about that, I don't take my 9 month old because he crawls. After about an hour in the rig he want's time to play and crawl, which is not a good thing in the dirt, plus he tries to eat everything in sight.

Is this your first one?

yea first, and at almost 7 months I got no idea when they walk/crawl/etc..

he can sit (falls over occasionally, timber!) and no prob keepin the head up but no crawlin yet

I have not taken my 14 mo old daughter out wheeling at all. She is plenty strong enough (stronger than we all thought she was) so I am not too worried about her neck, but the wheeling I do throws me around and I do not want to take that chance with her.

Besides, she can not handle riding in the car for more than 20-30 minutes without throwing a hissy. No way could I deal with her on a trail. She rarely sleeps in the car unless really tired and if she sees anythign new she will fight to stay awake.

She walks and runs and sticks everything in her mouth she can get her hands on.

I think I will wait until she is around 3 years old.

Originally posted by jdjanda
My three year old son loves it... wheeling with others that have kids or friends that are Pro-kid...

My kids giggle their fool heads off whenever we hit the bouncy stuff. :) The cackling from the backseat is really funny. :)

I agree with the pro-kid thing. Most of the people I know who off-road don't have kids or go solo anyway tho, it's harder to find people who do the family thing.

B- I'm happy to hear you're going to include Scout in your wheelin' plans :) It's good to get them started early. We started taking our girls on trips at about 4 months of age. They were easy, family trips and were a lot of fun. As a result, our girls (now 17 & 15) are very capable in the outdoors and the oldest has become a very capable driver on the trail.

As for the Sierra Trek- IMO- I'd keep that a run for just you and the Mrs. Little ones get really tired after a couple of hours on the trail and if they're not happy, nobody's happy! The endless backups during the Trek could be more than Scout and his Momma can take. Just my .02 :)

Have taken both my kids since they were both the age of 1 year. Just make sure they are strapped in fine and they will be fine. Also well fed too as someone else said :D :D and now, (3 and 9) now and I dare not go wihtout either one of them. hell even if I go and try out a new mod and don't take them i get my assed chewed out :D :D

Run A Muck might be better for the little one. On Sierra Trek, you could be out there all day due to breakdowns in front of you.

I took my son @ 4 1/2 months old an my daughter @ just over two years old on barret lake. We stayed 3 days 2 nights, my son was fussy at that age, but on that trip he was the happiest we ever saw him.
:D

I know Simpson makes a kid's car seat that would be perfect for you. I think I've seen a few other ones in Jegs. They're fairly cheap and should provide plenty of protection.

Brandon, did you fill in your APU hole on the passener side of your m38a1? is that a replacement tub? I'm also not seeing the battery box, or the antenna mounts above the rear wheels:confused:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=439224

Brandon,

I take my kids with me when ever we do the family weekends. The kids would have my A** if I ever left them behind. Like was said earlier, the laughing in the back is neat.
By the way all girls 3,4,9 and 11. All a year younger last wheeling season.
I love taking them. I also love just the guys out trips also, more, also, more, also, more....

If he will be 11 months for Trek then HE isn't going to have a good time, he won't even know what is up. I would wait a year or two until he is a little older to take him on the trail. You could always have your wife or parents or someone take him up to Meadow Lake and then meet up with them when you get up there. That is what my parents used to do with me when I was a little dodger. ;)

Originally posted by bertha
Have taken both my kids since they were both the age of 1 year. Just make sure they are strapped in fine and they will be fine. Also well fed too as someone else said :D :D and now, (3 and 9) now and I dare not go wihtout either one of them. hell even if I go and try out a new mod and don't take them i get my assed chewed out :D :D

I'll vouch for that.. Your 9 year old seems to live for body damage?! When I make up a family, my kid is gonna grow up with a welder in one hand and a sawzall in the other.... Doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl... Boy: Blue sawzall, Girl: Pink sawzall... :D

Originally posted by HighHooder
Brandon, did you fill in your APU hole on the passener side of your m38a1? is that a replacement tub? I'm also not seeing the battery box, or the antenna mounts above the rear wheels:confused:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=439224

unfortunately the old body was a total rustbucket, kinda wish I had a replacement m38a1 body but that is a malotte fiberglass body (universal pre 66' jeep)..

The way I see it I would rather have the little one along with me instead of just sitting around the house with nothing to look at but the T.V. I've taken my boy since he was 5 weeks old and he would never forgive me if I went out without him. You can usually tell the people that havnt taken there Kids out till they are older because they are usually the ones that have to deal with screaming, complaining, very nervous parents, etc... At 7 months old you already bring with you everything the child needs to survive anyway, they might as well be learning what it is you like about wheeling too.
Dave

I would not go without my son. He is 4 and loves to go as long as he gets to take his RC Monster Patrol. I bought a car seat and left the harness in. Mounted a tether strap hook in the floor board and configured the seat belts in the rear to lock him in the middle. 4WD Specialties in Concord finished the family cage for me. Hopefully we get to hook up and whel with our boys.

my kids go everywhere with me. my youngest one who is now 1.5 ran jack hammer when he was 6 weeks old. my 5 year old started in moab when he was 8 months old. hell my kids have probally seen more hard core wheeling that 1/2 the guys on this board. my sons famous line while i am in the box is " be a man dad and roll it" :D

once while trying a really hard line on wrecking ball that i didn't make and broke an axle on my son got out of the rig all pissed off and yelled at me " dad you suck"

wow! my son was born oct 31st and we named him SCOUT!!!!! i thought we had something origional here! oh well i think it is a cool name. :D

Sierra trek is a great event to take the little ones, theres always tons of other kids and plenty of friends to help out if needed. We usually take 2 car seats. one where he can sit up when hes awake or be lying down when hes asleep, head not bobing around.
Just be prepared..... if ya register late for TREK and your in the last group leaving the staging area you could be on the trail for a long long time ...14+ hrs. so register early!!

Originally posted by high5
wow! my son was born oct 31st and we named him SCOUT!!!!! i thought we had something origional here!

I guess that you never read "To Kill A Mockingbird" huh? :flipoff2:
Brandon everyone here seems to be disagreeing with me but I think that the heat, sun exposure, dust in the air, and bouncing around for 12 hours isn't the best for an 11 month old. I'd give him another year and then take him, but it is your son, not mine.

my girls will be with me this year again Haley 9 months and Hanna 2 years old Hanna the 2 year old actully drove my jeep (ok with me holding her) :p

they love the jeep its like there little playgorund they have been on road trips and very long drives and trails and they seem to like it alot !

I say have fun and be safe!

Adam,

Originally posted by Dirty Harry


I guess that you never read "To Kill A Mockingbird" huh? :flipoff2:
Brandon everyone here seems to be disagreeing with me but I think that the heat, sun exposure, dust in the air, and bouncing around for 12 hours isn't the best for an 11 month old. I'd give him another year and then take him, but it is your son, not mine.


read? what's that?:flipoff2:

Just be sure to keep the top on your Jeep. When we took my God Daughter for the first time she was 8 months old our only worry was a sun burn. Now at 2 years old all she does is laugh as soon as the truck starts moving.

I was 6 months old for my first trip to the Rubicon and my sister was 3 weeks old for her first trip. I still cant get enough 24 years later. My sister still loves it as well and goes anytime she gets a chance. Bring sunblock, sunshade and lots of water. He will be ok.

Ryan

mine go, all 4 girls

I really agree with Dirty Harry. Trek can be very long and tiresome even for adults. I like the idea of having him at camp where he can play, sleep, play, sleep, yada yada.:) Your call though.

matt-

fibreglass is COOL :D

Our son is going to be 4 months old on his first wheelin trip. 7 days in CO. @ All-4-Fun!

On the down side my 2 year old vomited ever 20 minutes in the tent one night at Barret. I got so fast coming out of a dead sleep that one time she just moved or something and I was THERE. She says"I'm OK Daddy, I'm OK"

cost of 4 wheeler 10,000

cost of groceries for a weekend trip 200.00

cost of the memory of a good trip gone bad PRICELESS

One other, the time we gave her a bath (18 months old) in a 5 gallon bucket.
She has been wheeling with me since she was nine months old.
Oh yeah she drives too.


Start 'em early:D

Scott

My daughter is 19 months old now I don't think I'd take her on a trip were other people will dictate the pace so much. On a regular day I would for sure.:)

i take my soon all the time. he's only 2 months old. he can't tell whats going on but he stairs at me with a big grin on his face!:D

i just wrap a lot of stuff between his head and the car seat. my wife love it because she gets some free time. and i love it becasue i get to go wheelin!

i think you'll be fine. my kid loves riding in the car and truck.

Both my kids were on Rubicon and Barrett Lake by one year old. And both went with us on Star Trek last year since the grandparents were out of town. They even stayed up for the steak dinner. Kids love it, although it is more work for mom and dad.

Bring the kids. My daughter sleeps in the back seat while I'm running the Con. When we are on the verge of going over she says "that was fun daddy".

I take my two boys all the time. To Hollister Hills and thay love it. Jason is six and brandon is three. They love the outdoors and hunting and fishing is part of there life to. The (x) wife dont like it thought, but that is another story in its self.:smokin: