My DH and I are looking to buy a Suburban. Our triplets are 2 and we have an older son who is 4. We currently have a Toyota Sienna XLE with captain chairs. With the 4 carseats installed their is no room for anyone else to ride. It also does not have alot of room for extras when traveling (even with using a turtle on top). We are currently looking at 2007 Suburban. It has the bench seats in the middle and a third row. And LOTS of extra space. Does anyone have a Suburban (os similar size vehicle Excursion, Denali, Yukon XL) that has the bench seat in 2nd row? WOuld you rather have had the captains chairs instead? Looking for pros and cons of bench seat v. captain chairs. TIA!

Tanya
Brenden 12/05
Ethan, Zayne, and Tristan 02/08
www.vatriplets.blogspot.com

P.S Just changed ID's. Former username is jeffp731

We have the Yukon XL, same as the Suburban, with the bench 2nd row. I like it because we can put our 3 in that row right next to us and still have the option for the back seat-although someone has to jump over or crawl through the back to access the seat. I think you'll just have to put the 3 in the very back and keep the access seat (2nd row folds down in one area on passenger side) down most of the time...unless you have a visitor. In my opinion, this is the best and safest car out there unless you are going to get a Sprinter. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the info. What kind of carseats do you have? We have the Graco Nautalis so I'm not sure we will be able to put 3 across. My plan was to have 2 in the back and 2 in the middle. Hoping it will leave enough room for another person to ride in the middle.

Tanya
Brenden 12/05
Ethan, Zayne, and Tristan 02/08
www.vatriplets.blogspot.com

Our girls are still facing back and in the peg perego.

I also have the Nautlis and with two of them in the 3rd row seat you don't have any room for anyone else. I haven't done it in the 2nd row, but with an infant seat and 1 Nautalis, there is no room, so I would say you can do 2 and 2, but there will be no room for anyone else to sit in either row. Car seats are just so darn big!

I have a 2009 Suburban with a bench 2nd row.

Interresting! I am just getting to sign the paperwork for a Sienna XLE!!! Would you suggest that we NOT get that and look further itno the Suburban?

Michelle

The Sienna has been a great car for us for the past 2 yrs. We have the captains chairs with a carseat in each one. And in the 3rd row we have 2 more car seats. This leaves no room for any other passengers. We love going to the Outer Banks in NC and do go about 2-3 times a year. But when we do this, we HAVE to take 2 cars because there is not enough room in the Sienna for luggage, strollers, coolers, fishing gear....and so on. We even travel with the turtle on top and still dont have enough room. My DH went out and looked at the Suburban last night (had it transfered in) and said he really likes it. Saturday we are all going out with the kids and putting the car seats in and letting crawl and climb through it to see if it will work for our needs. I know it is spacious enough to travel with all the gear we need bu we also want to have enough room for another passenger. HTH!

Tanya
Brenden 12/05
Ethan, Zayne, and Tristan 02/08

www.vatriplets.blogspot.com

Honda's new Odyssey van they introduced at the Chicago auto show is being advertised by them as being able to accept three seats in the center row. The van is not out yet though, so a wait probably until fall would be required to even check it out.

Mike

www.mikethedad.com

dad of BBG
Born 12-16-09 at 35w 0d
Jack 4lb 11oz
Joe 6lb 0 oz
Samantha 5lb 4oz