I am a foster parent: we unexpectedly went from a family of 4 to a family of 6 to a family of 5 in about 4 weeks time. So it happens more often than you might think.

I think we are done now with 5.

AggieMPH2005 said:

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I am a foster parent: we unexpectedly went from a family of 4 to a family of 6 to a family of 5 in about 4 weeks time. So it happens more often than you might think.

I think we are done now with 5.

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Yep this. We got a call that our adopted child from foster care had a sibling just born that needed a home too. Had 6 days to get ready. We thought we were done and sold everything, but the good man upstairs had other plans!

Gotcha. Unexpectedly but also kind of not. The wife didn't magically spit out another kiddo.

Sea Speed said:

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Cloud said:

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First of all, congrats!

Does the highlander have a 3rd row?

Cx9 would be my recommendation.

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We switched from cx9 to atlas when we went to 5. More interior space and ease of using 3rd row led to the switch.

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No one who is over 6'4" and has a tall family should ever consider a CX9. We were recently in the new car market, and struggled with the room provided by the car. Could barely after squishing down a bit to get a water bottle tipped high enough to fully empty. And if you're tall enough, you know what I'm talking about when you keep hitting the ceiling of a car when trying to drink your coke from a bottle.

Suburban man. It's the sexy male equivalent of a minivan of aka Dad Van.

I think noone over about 6 foot unless you want your head to feel cramped. Wife is 5'8" and she said she felt like she had been cramped the whole time when compared to the atlas.

Sequoia

We currently have an Odyssey and a Pilot and while I love the Pilot, you can't beat the Odyssey for functionality with the kids.

schmendeler said:

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How does one "unexpectedly" gain another child?

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Likely an extended family member's kid.

2016-ish Sequoia. 2nd row has 2 vs 3 seat options (and console vs pass thru option.) Sequoias 3rd row fits grown ass men.

Our Sienna will outrun a Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ or Miata both to 60mph and quarter mile.

Hilariously it beats them in MPG too. Don't sleep on how good that V6 is.

Sea Speed said:

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I meant on something that LOOKS like an suv

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They already look the same from behind. Is it a minivan, cute ute, or suv? with the car in front of us has become a stoplight game.

JSKolache said:

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2016-ish Sequoia. 2nd row has 2 vs 3 seat options (and console vs pass thru option.) Sequoias 3rd row fits grown ass men.

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When we bought my Sequoia we sat in the 3rd row of every single SUV that we were looking at to figure out whether it would be comfortable for tall teenagers to sit in on long trips. Today, at 13, of them is already 5' 10" tall. That 3rd row really is comfortable enough for an adult.

Looking at our next car purchase in a few years. Wife wants a minivan. I want to keep the F150 until the wheels fall off but were looking at having more kids than a F150 can handle.

If I buy a minivan, it will be a full sized sprinter van. Just wish they came with more power than they do.

Did I hear LS swap? I think I heard LS swap.

Sea Speed said:

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Did I hear LS swap? I think I heard LS swap.

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You know that was the first thing I googled 10 minutes ago. Been reading this thread. Its a treat.

https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/66914/

I'd be game to do it. My wife would hate me. The big question would be could I convert it before someone like Rivian announces an electric skateboard platform and just do a body swap.

Canyonero
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI_Jl5WFQkA][/url]

one MEEN Ag said:

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Looking at our next car purchase in a few years. Wife wants a minivan. I want to keep the F150 until the wheels fall off but were looking at having more kids than a F150 can handle.

If I buy a minivan, it will be a full sized sprinter van. Just wish they came with more power than they do.

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Get a NV2500 with the V8. There's not much to it, but Nissan V8s are burly suckers

Didn't Nissan pull the plug on the NVs? I believe it's OldJock that has one for his family hauler and it looks awesome from the pics he's posted.

aTm2004 said:

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Didn't Nissan pull the plug on the NVs? I believe it's OldJock that has one for his family hauler and it looks awesome from the pics he's posted.

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They did pull the plug. Jock said he is worried about parts in the future, because it is a perfect family hauler for him.

Thought so. He had that thing looking awesome. I see a lot of work van versions of them, and as odd as they look, I kind of like them.

We went minivan when we went to our third kiddo. Great for car seats and the sliding doors make parking a ton easier.

Went to an Expedition this summer after a hail storm
Totaled the van.

Pros: much nicer ride, more passenger room.
Cons: can't haul near as much stuff when set up to haul everyone on a longer road trip.

If I had it to do again I'd go mini van with littles and once they are old enough to big SUV of choice or stick with minivan.

Echo what others say, always go used with kids since they are like sand blasters going off randomly in your vehicle.

Wife switched to a minivan when we had our 3rd. I'd suggest seriously considering with the following set-up:

• Fully remove the end seat in the 2nd row (you can easily do this in the Odyssey, not sure about others).
• Older kid just steps in and sits in the 3rd row.
• Removed seat is on the passenger side so the kiddo can easily just step out from the 3rd row for school drop-off.
• You can easily add the seat back for the 2nd row for additional passengers on a family trip.

Your issue will be the fact that you're a giant! At 6' 2" I can easily manage in the Odyssey but you may have some trouble with rear-facing seat + leg room needs. You can have the "open seat" on the driver side of course, but that would never work with child drop-off.

I switched to an Expedition EL/Max not long after that. Yes, 3 kids can fit across the second row of a crew cab, but anything you'd need to keep in the car for a moderate trip is in the floorboard. It's a mess.

I agree the bucket seats are a good idea for the babies. You will NOT to be working with the 3rd row in a rear-facing seat. After the removable infant car seat, you'll be heaving a kid over the top of a rear-facing child seat. Add to that, you may struggle with a rear-facing seat in the bucket behind you as a drive...the whole giant thing again.

That said, a 60/40 might work in a 3-row set-up with one of the kiddos in the middle of the 2nd row. Some are removable on the end. It just domes down to preference and the hassle you're comfortable with.

If you travel much at all, consider the storage room you use now and then more than double it. Every baby we've had we somehow have to relearn that there's just a bunch of $#!+ you're hauling with them. Pack and play...diaper bags...diapers x TWO, etc. You'll have to decide whether you try to get that room from behind the 3rd row (Suburban/Yukon XL/Expedition MAX) or do you utilize a hitch hauler or roof cargo. With our Expedition EL, we've just said screw it and done all 3 so things aren't piled up behind the 3rd row.

Have fun!

aTm2004 said:

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Didn't Nissan pull the plug on the NVs? I believe it's OldJock that has one for his family hauler and it looks awesome from the pics he's posted.

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Who's the poster that had an NV with all sorts of transmission problems?

Apparently, it was a common issue for some years.

X7

School pickup is key if you're using the car. I've seen so many families this week roll up with the multiple kids in an SUV then realize they can't get out of the car to put their kid in the back. It's been a hot mess at the school.

Minivan is the way to go.

One of my earliest memories from when I was a kid

Kids are grown.

But we will continue to have a minivan.

On our 2nd odyssey in 20 years.

No other vehicle is better for a 4 man golf outing with 4 sets of clubs, luggage and a cooler full of beers. Unless you have a Mercedes sprinter conversion van.

New Sienna has a reclining second row seats with leg rest. I'm in.

To piggy back on this thread.

What's the best option IF you do need to haul something. Looking at a travel trailers but wife's Xterra won't cut it.

Yukon XL? Ford Expedition?

No Ford experience, but have had good luck with Suburban (ours) and Yukon(in-laws).

I was going to mention this about the CX9.
Great car, but
I'm 6'2" and I feel like a sardine after a short trip!

I thought I read in this forum the sequoia was being discontinued.
I don't think it's ever been updated.

I thought this would be the best option because I have loved every Toyota I have had.

If they are discontinuing it, I might need to run out and buy one of the last ones! I love my Sequoia.

cavscout96 said:

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No Ford experience, but have had good luck with Suburban (ours) and Yukon(in-laws).

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Kind of opposite here. Yukon and then Yukon XL. I've don't think I've ever repaired so many things in the last Yukon than every vehicle my wife and I have ever owned combined. Dash replaced, door lock actuators, window actuates, rear liftgate motor, water pump assembly, radio would just crap out randomly and when I sold it with 125k miles the transmission was starting to go. So far happy about 2 years into a Expedition MAX.

kapon said:

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I was going to mention this about the CX9.
Great car, but
I'm 6'2" and I feel like a sardine after a short trip!

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Mom of four boys, including twins.

We had a CX-9, just traded it in for an Expedition Max. I absolutely loved that car, but there wasn't enough trunk space and no leg room for growing boys and their friends and their sports equipment/band instruments/backpacks. Traveling also meant we had to use a roof pack, which was fine but not ideal. It had all of the bells and whistles and I would have kept it, we just outgrew it.

My advice is to keep the Highlander and trade it in later when you reach that point. As someone else said, your life is about to get real expensive, real quick. Spend the money somewhere else and upgrade later.

AgCPA95 said:

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cavscout96 said:

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No Ford experience, but have had good luck with Suburban (ours) and Yukon(in-laws).

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Kind of opposite here. Yukon and then Yukon XL. I've don't think I've ever repaired so many things in the last Yukon than every vehicle my wife and I have ever owned combined. Dash replaced, door lock actuators, window actuates, rear liftgate motor, water pump assembly, radio would just crap out randomly and when I sold it with 125k miles the transmission was starting to go. So far happy about 2 years into a Expedition MAX.

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I has specifically referring to hauling/towing.

We're on our 2nd suburban and both have been reliable and performed as expected and within the mission profile we needed.

I've never owned a Ford, but we have had Honda, Acura, Dodge p/u, GMC, Chevrolet, and VW as a family.

my first two cars were a Plymouth and a Pontiac. Admittedly, I don't think I've ever ridden in a ford SUV, but the ride in all of the older Ford trucks I've ridden in was abysmal.