I have a 7 year old in a booster seat, and I typically have him in the front with the airbag off. I figured that the closest to the center of the vehicle, the safer he would be.

 

Airbags turn off?



I'm a single mom and my daughter will be 7 this year, I drive a 99 VW Golf right now but really want a 2 door Wrangler - I would love for her to sit up front with me! But is this safe? It would be our only vehicle...

 

How's he reach the pedals from a car seat? In all seriousness though, the airbag issue is moot point. They are not intended to help children in the event of an accident. There's no sense turning him into bubble-boy in the name of safety either. As long as you are up on your maintenance, confident that the jeep isn't going to catastrophically fail on its own, and don't take unnecessary risks with it, take the kid for a ride every now and then. If you go no doors though, duct tape him to the seat. There isn't a passive restraint manufactured today that can keep a 3 year old down for long...

 

Keep those doors on. Strap him tight. Don't drive fast. Don't do anything stupid. Be patient. When my girl rides wit me, or anyone for that matter, I drive super safe. you need to do the same.

 

I've got an almost 3 yr old thats been riding in mine. I follow this advice and had a custom roll cage put in the back for her. I also fab'd an attachment for the latch system and a frame tie in for the upper anchor on her car seat. She is so much safer than we are up front, but thats how I wanted it too be.

 

I just had boy/girl twins last spring (turned 1 a few weeks ago).
They've ridden in the Jeep since they were born, back seat always in full harness car seats.
Top off I stick to back roads, just too much wind. Still not going to take them on the interstate topless, just think 70mph wind will suck the air out of them, but I'd be interested in others opinions.

They both LOVE to ride and usually laugh a good bit. With the top on they sleep like.....babies...that extra road noise does a sleepy baby good!

 

If both my boys ride with me, the 5 year old is in the back, and the 10 month old is in the front. Sounds backwards I know...but I don't want random crap flying into the back of the jeep from road and hitting the baby. I could probably swap the boys around if I had the top and windows on...but I live in FL and it is topless season for the next 8 months.

 

and if any cop see's you driving with the boys as you say, you'll get a ticket for having the 10 month old in the front! It's not backwards, it is UNSAFE!
No reason they can't both be in the backseat in proper seats...our grandson is 5 and just graduated from full surround booster seat to the little booster seat with no back...he doesn't know it yet, but he will when jeeping season comes around in 2 months. No way would I put him up front!

 

My kid is 3 months old. He's been riding in the back seat of my LJ since he's about 3 weeks old...

 

Just the other day..

I have a three year old son that always wants to go without the top on and no doors, etc... weather permitting. I don't worry too much about it if I'm running around town or out to the farm but for longer trips I wouldn't feel as easy about it. My logic is that if he first learns and becomes accustomed to it for the shorter trips, then as he gets older he'll do fine for the longer trips and know the rules. Not to say I have problems with him now. He rides shotgun in a booster seat (87 YJ) and does great. Each child is different and each parent. IMO, try some short trips and just get a feel for it all.

 

I'm a single mom and my daughter will be 7 this year, I drive a 99 VW Golf right now but really want a 2 door Wrangler - I would love for her to sit up front with me! But is this safe? It would be our only vehicle...

No, not in the front seat. Your daughter would be safer in the back seat with a high back booster seat that offers good head protection, some boosters offer a 5 point harness up to a certain weight limit. Do not exceed that limit, remove the harness once she has exceeded it and use the vehicles belts to restrain her in it's booster mode. Follow the instructions in the seat's owners manual as well as the vehicles manual and you can always check NHTSA, and IIHS for more info.

 

What he said

 

My son is 4 he doesn't drive my jeep, but my dad let's him drive his everywhere in the gravel bar when were at the river. My dad uses the gas and clutch then grabs the roll bars, and let's my boy take the wheel with 100% trust in him. It's the greatest feeling watching your 4 year old navigate throughout the woods and up hills all by himself.

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My son is 4 he doesn't drive my jeep, but my dad let's him drive his everywhere in the gravel bar when were at the river. My dad uses the gas and clutch then grabs the roll bars, and let's my boy take the wheel with 100% trust in him. It's the greatest feeling watching your 4 year old navigate throughout the woods and up hills all by himself.

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My Dad did the same thing with me...I was 4 years old siting on his knees with a steering wheel as big as a bus, driving over huge humps, I remember asking my Dad, " Are we gonna turn over" LOL, of course he laughed and said "No son, you're doing great"...it's funny what memories stick in your head... it was a CJ-3B, I've been hooked ever since ! I'll never forget that day!
I bought a TJ a few years back, fixed it up real nice and gave it to my Dad as sort of a "thanks" for my passion. He drives it every day and loves it !

 

My Dad did the same thing with me...I was 4 years old siting on his knees with a steering wheel as big as a bus, driving over huge humps, I remember asking my Dad, " Are we gonna turn over" LOL, of course he laughed and said "No son, you're doing great"...it's funny what memories stick in your head... it was a CJ-3B, I've been hooked ever since ! I'll never forget that day!
I bought a TJ a few years back, fixed it up real nice and gave it to my Dad as sort of a "thanks" for my passion. He drives it every day and loves it !

Thats awesome, my dad is the one that got me into my jeep as well. We both have a yj. And it's a big competition now. Lol.

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They're ready!!!

 

Niiiiiiccce!

 

Thats awesome, my dad is the one that got me into my jeep as well. We both have a yj. And it's a big competition now. Lol.

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I had a white '90 YJ 2.5 in high school, mint condition, drove it for 4 years and sold it to a lady that keeps it in a garage, I've been trying to save up a reasonable amount of cash to buy it back. I need money and I need to find out where she lives now, I miss that thing! LOL!
That's great that you and your Dad can share the passion. I took my Dad out on a trail in his TJ a couple of months ago to follow me and before I could tell him to slow down, he slammed the front end on some rocks in a creek. We got a good laugh out of it, he's proud of the bent license plate and so am I! Haha, it was a mild trail but my Dad is older now and more careful... He thought a bent plate was cool so I've played along Enjoy all the time you can wheel'n with your Father... It's worth every minute!

 

Just make sure they don't act like it's their Jeep.