So looks like I have twins on the way early next year and starting to think through the logistics of going from a party of 3 to a party of 5. Wife currently drives a highlander and I'm trying to think if that's going to be big enough for us moving forward. Currently have a 5 year old boy. I'm on the larger side (6'7") so expecting my son to grow quickly.
Trying to avoid a minivan, although that new Kia looks pretty nice. Is the highlander as good an option as anything before stepping up to a Tahoe/expedition?
Also how should I expect the space in my 21 King Ranch to work out with 3 in the back.

First of all, congrats!

Does the highlander have a 3rd row?

Cx9 would be my recommendation.

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Trying to avoid a minivan

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Is your manhood too fragile to drive a minivan? They're great for growing families and you can even transport full sheets of plywood and sack-crete in the rain without worrying about getting them wet.

Thanks, the highlander does have a third row just don't know how much of a pain in the ass it'll be trying to get an infant car seat back there with car seats/booster in the captains chairs. Guess that's step #1 to better understand.

MB GLS 450.

I would put the infants in the captains' chairs and have the 5 year old climb in the back. At least until he gets to big.

I had some friends that did 2 full size child seats and an infant carrier in a 2011ish F-150. It was tight, but doable .

I joke, but I'm staring down the party of 5 scenario in a few month. Just keeping those options open.

Hated the idea of a minivan until I had to rent one when my suburban broke down in LaGrange thanksgiving weekend. Two kids in car seats, a weeks worth of luggage, and two Great Danes. Minivan's practical nature won me over that weekend.

But to the OPs preference of no minivans, I'd highly recommend the CX9 or Pilot.

Jock 07 said:

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Thanks, the highlander does have a third row just don't know how much of a pain in the ass it'll be trying to get an infant car seat back there with car seats/booster in the captains chairs. Guess that's step #1 to better understand.

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I cannot imagine putting an infant car seat in the 3rd row of Highlander size SUV. Most people that make that type/size of SUV work with a family of 5, put a booster and 5+ year old back there that can climb in and out and buckle themselves.


I assume by 21 King Ranch, you mean an F-150 and if that's the case, it can work but you need to pay attention to the width of the car seats. One of the narrower car seat brands is Clek which might work for 3 across.

You can make it work in the highlander, but if you plan on bringing a stroller to HEB and buying a week's worth of groceries, I don't know where you are going to put it all. Good luck making it work or congrats on the new Minivan. The choice is yours.

Yeah, I was a minivan hater until we bought our 2001 Oddy new. Was freaking fantastic for a family hauler.

Mom and dad bought a 2011, partially for them, partially as a backup vehicle for the kids and the grandkids. It has been wonderful in the lattter role, you can't imagine how nice it is to have an extra car for when yours is in the shop or you are between cars.

Everyone in the family has driven it and loved it. We even used it on a 2013 2000 mile road trip, with just my wife and I. Drives like a much smaller vehicle, you kind of forget how much space is following you around.

Rent a minivan for a couple of weeks, see how it works

So, not to piggyback, but what's a guy to do when he already has a minivan and has to suddenly fit 5 car seats? Asking for a friend

And yes, just buy the minivan.

BenTheGoodAg said:

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So, not to piggyback, but what's a guy to do when he already has a minivan and has to suddenly fit 5 car seats? Asking for a friend

And yes, just buy the minivan.

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Five kids in car seats?

He needs to hop in his pickup and drive to the vasectomy clinic.



Seriously, God Bless him (or you), love and respect large families. But that's getting into 12 passenger van territory

I have three kids
3 car seats across an f150, truck bed cover helped with all the infant crap to haul. Expy max for the wife, older kid back row, younger up front in the captains. Older is 5 and can buckle herself back row

Get a used Suburban.

Used because

1. kids are hell on cars
2. New Suburbans are almost triple my first mortgage

Sight lines are better. You can haul actual adults in the 2nd row. No one moves out of the way for a minivan.

ETA... The perspective and ride height will be closer to your p/u when you end up in the driver's seat.

Through the years with 3 kids, we've had 4 Odysseys. My car buddies gave me grief too. You'll get over it. Congratulations on your new minivan!

2011-2014 Suburban

Highlander is way to small.

A Sienna would be perfect but since you can't stomach it, a suburban is the next best thing.
2015+ have a lot more issues than prior model and a new one is lol $$$$

as others have said...a minivan will absolutely make your life so much easier. it's better in every category except the mythical "what will other people think" category.

We're a family of 5 and I also hated the idea of a minivan, but my wife was set on one, so we ended up with an Odyssey. Honestly, it's awesome with kids. Low entry and sliding doors that my 2.5 year old can operate and easily climb into. Tons of cargo room with the rear seats folded down, and even with them up. We were able to pack for 5 people for a week and I still had full view out of my rear window. All of that and 30mpg on the highway.

Honda Pilot AWD
No one ever believes me on this board, but it is a wonderful vehicle.

The Odyssey is surprisingly quick as well. It takes nothing to get up to speed, and if you need to pass someone on the highway, just let the V-TECH kick in, yo! and it'll fly by them with little effort.

CrottyKid said:

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Honda Pilot AWD
No one ever believes me on this board, but it is a wonderful vehicle.

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Wife wanted to change things up, so we switched from our 3rd Odyssey to a Pilot. We traded back into our 4th Odyssey about a year later.

What's wrong w/ the Highlander? My mom just got one and was able to haul her & 6 grandkids ranging 4-15 around the week they stayed with her? I did hear that the third row seat was tight for the biggest nephew but granny ain't getting no minivan.

inch05 said:

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as others have said...a minivan will absolutely make your life so much easier. it's better in every category except the mythical "what will other people think" category.

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who GAF about what other people think.....?


OP - I left out one other critical piece about our particular mission profile in my previous post. We also pull a two horse BP trailer with the Suburban. If that's not part of your requirement. you might be happy with something else. For us, the Suburban was the only real fit.

My wife is the one who's more opposed to the idea of the minivan honestly. Seems to be that the odyssey is the preferred version here. I'll probably wind up looking at those the Toyota and the new Kia.

Sequoia

Yeah, I would just suck it up and go mini-van. My buddy broke down and got one with 4 kids and absolutely loved it because it simply made his life easier. And, frankly, once you have 4 kids any thoughts about what other people think will disappear because your entire life is consumed with figuring out how to keep 4 kids alive and your daughter off the pole if you have girls.

Jock 07 said:

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My wife is the one who's more opposed to the idea of the minivan honestly. Seems to be that the odyssey is the preferred version here. I'll probably wind up looking at those the Toyota and the new Kia.

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It took me about a year to convince my wife a minivan was the best option when our kids were little. The deciding factor was a trip for a friend's wedding, we rented a minivan and it really becomes obvious how much better of a choice it is. We're on our second Sienna now, couldn't be happier.

Sliding doors are ideal with little kids, and you get more storage space in a MV than you'll get with a large SUV. That massive double stroller for twins will be easy to get in and out of a minivan. There really is no question.

Seriously, who cares what other people think? You're sacrificing a lot of convenience for the opinion of total strangers and shallow people who aren't worth your time anyways.

Minivans have been around for decades. I often wonder if the current parents who don't like minis are associating them with being an old fuddy dud vehicle their parents drove

If you already have a King Ranch, this is an easy decision. Get a new minivan. Drive it for 10-20 years. You won't care (as much) when kids spill their Happy Meals and goldfish all over the place.

Every time I'm with my kids in one of my other cars, I have to remind them to be careful to not hit the vehicle next to us when they open the doors. And that is one thing I don't have to worry about with the minivan sliding doors. It is so much easier to get in and out of when using the back seat.

I know that advertisers and marketing execs love the extra money that the SUVs bring in, and that's why they play their cards to men especially to buy that product, but it is just marketing.

Plus, if you are going to keep the King Ranch, your ego will be fine.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Minivans have been around for decades. I often wonder if the current parents who don't like minis are associating them with being an old fuddy dud vehicle their parents drove

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We had a full size van and then the ground breaking Chrysler Town & Country with the faux wood paneling.

Full size van was badass.

A Tahoe or Sequoia makes little sense over a Highlander unless you are pulling stuff. It's just more expensive. KrottiKid is right though, the Pilot is awesome.

Pilot is just an Oddy with less convenient doors. Same platform

I don't disagree, but my wife has a Pilot Elite with captains chairs and it's fantastic. She also won't drive a minivan, so it's still a win.