Best vehicles for multiple newfs + kids?

[NKlein]

D and I have decided it's probably time to start adding human kids to our family. We currently have 2 newfs and I've promised myself I won't add a 3rd newf to our family anytime soon. The plan since we were married 3 years ago was to get a second newf, then try for kids when the pup turned 2, that way I wouldn't be pregnant and have a puppy on my hands. Funny now that Bo is turning 2 in December and ALL I WANT is a 3rd newf.

Anyway, I digress...

So right now we have a Jeep Liberty. It's been better than I hoped--the dogs are comfortable and we throw our bags into a carrier on the roof when going on long trips.

But, there is absolutely no room to have a baby AND 2 newfs. I have determined that I either need a vehicle with 3 rows of seats (turn down 3rd row for dogs) or a vehicle with 2 rows of seats and lots of room in the rear.

So this is where I need some help. Any recommendations for vehicles with enough room for 2 newfs (and maybe 3...?) + kids would be super helpful. The only 2 things I should mention are:

1. The boys need to be comfortable--the dogs are very much a part of our family and will be going on all trips WITH us and future baby. They need room to lie down and move around.

2. I have a severe aversion to vans. I've heard that minivans are very practical and I completely understand, but I'm just not ready to make that leap...

 

[padkins]

We have a Chevy Tahoe that has third row seating. We have removed the third row seats and there is plenty of room in the back for our fur kids (Currently one Newf, one Yorkie, and one Shih-Poo). We are adding a Newf puppy in November. The rest of the family (four humans) fit just fine in the other seats with plenty of room. Good luck with your search!

 

[NewfMom]

I understand your van aversion I used to have one too. However, I've gotten over mine because they are just so darn practical.

We used to have a Chevy Astro but we found with our son plus a friend along, 2-3 dogs, vacation and outdoor gear that the car would be so over packed with stuff that when we went over a bump the wheels would hit the wheel well.

We now have a Ford Econoline 150 which has horrible looks but is roomy, comfortable and fits piles of stuff. We will have 3-4 people, 2 dogs, and my kid's stuff in it moving him temporarily back home this weekend on a 10-12 hour each way trip and it will be fine.

I compensate for the looks by accessorizing mine with dog stuff :lol:

Just a thought.

 

[JackandKelly]

We drive a large SUV which is way too high for the Newfs to jump in and out of. We use a ramp, but our next vehicle will likely be something lower.
After looking alot, if I was going to buy a new vehicle right now we would buy a Ford Flex. Have you seen how long the back end is on that thing?
The seats lay down in different variations. Other than removing the seats from a minivan (stowing them) or driving a full size van (didn't really want to do either) this one had the most amount of room.
We would probably completely remove the third row seats rather than lay them down, maybe even one of the second row seats. Leaving one for a passenger
http://www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/flex/

 

[Cascadians]

We have a Jeep Liberty also and have room for 1 Newf on a shopping trip.
Would have to add the carrier on top for 2 Newfs.

Lynn keeps saying we need a bigger car but we paid cash for the Jeep new and Lynn's kept it in great shape. Top loaded with kayak racks.

I'm going to learn how to drive and will then get a vehicle ... used to think it would be a low kayaking all terrain but obviously it's going to be a PetMobile. Just got 2 male Maine Coon kittens who will be very big, and they'll go kayaking with us too.

So these threads are very interesting. And having an easy-in-out vehicle for Newfs is really important.

 

[Sheila B.]

Well we have an Acura SUV with 3rd row seating and it is NOT big enough (comfortably) for two Newfs and a Saint AND the ramp. If we take one or two dogs it's OK, but with three the ramp gets in the way. Need to find another way to carry the ramp. Anyhow, happy shopping!

 

[new_2_newf]

I stuff a newf and a golden into the back of a Prius regularly, so I am really no help. My mother once made the mistake of assuming too much and asking where my friend Jake and I were planning on putting the babies (yes, that is right, more than one apparently). Jake looked panic stricken and I was totally confused...how could she have possibly missed the two babies we just loaded into the car??

 

[ardeagold]

Toyota Sequoia, Chevy Tahoe or Suburban. Depends on just how much room you want!

Our Sequoia (8 cyl) gets really good gas mileage considering it's size. It's MUCH better than our 4Runner (6 cyl) and almost as good as my Solara Convertible (6 cyl), which gets 34 mpg on the highway.

Remember one thing about gas mileage on larger vehicles. You can have a big/heavy vehicle with a small engine that gets much worse mileage than if you'd gotten the larger engine. Many larger SUV's have both 6 cyls and 8 cyls, and the 8 often gets much better mileage. The more weight that engine is "pulling" the worse the mileage gets.

 

[NKlein]

Thanks for all of the advice so far!

Kelly, thanks for the Ford Flex suggestion--you know, I hadn't even considered it, but it is a lot roomier than I thought. Plus, it sits low to the ground, which is obviously fantastic for dogs.

Our liberty has 69 cubic feet of room with the rear seats folded down, which is plenty of room for the boys, even with the wheel wells. The Flex has 43.2 cubic feet with the third row folded down. That's still roomy considering the size of the vehicle, but I'm afraid the boys might feel a little cramped. It's still worth us checking out for sure, though, it's hard to get an idea unless I really see it.

A good friend of mine just got a 2011 Honda Pilot (has large dog + one infant) and said she loves it. With the third row folded down there is 47.7 cubic feet of cargo space and it doesn't have wheel wells. It doesn't sit as low to the ground as the Flex, but it's probably about the same height as our Liberty. We bought a Twistep which attaches to our trailer hitch, which works great.

We're also open to a Tahoe, but for such a big vehicle I've heard it doesn't have much cargo room. Still, I know many dog owners who drive one and love it.

Cascadians, I'm glad you love your Liberty--we love ours, too, and also paid cash. We'll be paying cash again and I hate to spend more money (our Liberty was a great deal--we bought it from a guy who was upside down on his loan for a steal).

ETA: Donna, you make a great point about gas mileage. That is one of my concerns about the new Pilot--it has a V6 and doesn't seem to get great gas mileage.

 

[charlieinnj]

The interior volume of the Ford Flex is AMAZING! But I ended up buying a Buick Enclave. Any of the GM line (Enclave, Acadia, Traverse) defintely have enough room for 2 newfs in the rear (possibly 3...although I won't be finding that out anytime soon). And I LOVE that they have ceiling AC vents...all the way to the back. Gotta keep my babies cool! : )

 

[NKlein]

Charlieinnj, you bring up a great point with the Enclave--it has 65 cubic feet of cargo behind the second seat (third row folded), which I KNOW is enough room. Plus I genuinely like the Enclave. Thanks!

 

[charlieinnj]

These vehicles are the largest crossover SUVs on the market. The Enclave offers more interior space than all of its imaginable competitors: including Lexus RX, Acura MDX, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander. In fact, the Enclave and its related vehicles offer more interior space than most full-size SUVs, including GM's own full-size SUV trio (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade.)

I have the second row bucket seats in mine but you can get a second row bench, as well. You'd want that if you plan on folding the second row flat and using that space for dog room.

 

[Cascadians]

Oh yeah, powerful all-over air conditioning COLD is essential!

Have any of you ordered a vehicle without the back seats because you have no place to store them and know you'll always be taking your Newf(s) with you?

Is no back seats an option and does one get a discount?

Somebody once told me to buy a bare bones cargo van and get it outfitted for dogs (when I had 2 large Samoyeds).

 

[Capri]

We have a Chevy Suburban and it's PERFECT. Don't have ANY complaints at all - an that's a BIG as we've had this car for close to 8 years now !

 

[ardeagold]

Our Sequoia has a max cargo capacity of 128 cu ft. That's with the third row out, and the second split bench flipped up. You could put down one of the second row seats instead of both.

I looked up the EPA mileage estimates and they are SO wrong. They're about half of what it really gets.

Ours is a SR5 4x4 with a Limited Package. Has leather, rear AC, DVD, Ltd wheel package, tow package, roof rack, heated seats, CD player, pretty much everything except no Nav, no power rear seats, no back up camera (which comes with the Nav). And, it's a 2006.

We got it used (in late 2008) with only 45K miles on it...MUCH less expensive than new.

I don't know if you're considering brand new or if a low mileage used would work for you, but you can save a LOT on a used SUV. But if you go that route, make sure you get it Toyota Certified and get the Toyota Certified extended service contract. ONLY by Toyota. It'll cover everything up to 7 yrs 100K miles (total...from original model year - with the add on miles)

Toyota and Honda have excellent Certified Used programs. GM...not good at all, comparatively.

I worked in auto sales for years, for Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, Nissan, Hyundai, GM and Used (it was an automall and I was a Finance then Sales Manager). Imports all have a better Certified programs.

 

[NKlein]

Thanks again, all.

I wish GM was better about lising cargo dimensions behind seats. I really want to see how the Traverse compares to the Pilot...they look about the same, which is much smaller than the Enclave. I was really hoping the Traverse and Enclave would be the same size so I could save a little $$.

Donna, very good o know about the Sequoia. We are definitely looking for used with low miles over new. We pay cash for our vehicles, I have a strict no-debt policy, so I'm cheap. I've actually never bought through a dealership, I tend to favor private sellers--we lucked out when we bought our last vehicle as the owner had purchased an extended warranty and was able to transfer it to us.

 

[ardeagold]

If you go with a dealership...remember the profit margin they've built in, after refurbishing, etc. is around $4K. Depending on the vehicle, around $3500 is your maneuvering room. If it's been on the lot for 30 days...it's soon on the way to auction. They can't afford to keep it any longer. The interest they're paying the bank becomes too expensive on a vehicle that isn't selling. They'd rather use it on a different vehicle that they can turn over quickly.

So...keep that in mind too. Ask how long the vehicle has been there.

You were lucky. That owner could have gotten a refund on that extd warranty (which really isn't...it's an extd service contract by law). But many owners don't know that. If a car is traded, sold, wrecked...gone...they can cancel the policy and get a partial refund. Sometimes it's a substantial amount. Some DO know that and use it as a selling tool for their vehicle. It's worth having.

 

[JackandKelly]

Nicole,
We drive a Hummer right now and have owned a few Suburbans. All have ample room, and we liked them all. We can put all 3 Newfs and a couple passengers in either, but then I have to allow room for the ramp or steps. The Hummer is high enough I can't use the Twistep. They need two steps to get in and out for me to feel comfortable with the impact. I don't let my dogs jump up or down even though they can.
While the Flex has a little less cargo room I wouldn't have to carry and steps or ramps. I love that it is almost as low as a minivan. When I built it the way I wanted it was well over $50,000, but I believe they start at $29,000 which is a huge bargain compared to the Hummer. Plus the Hummer only gets 15mpg, but that is still better than our other trucks get.
I believe you can lay down or remove both rows of seats, but I think if you left one seat in the rear for a baby or a passenger, then stored the other 3 there would be plenty of room. Just removing the third row might leave them cramped, I am not sure.
Also I have not looked at one in person. You would need to make sure the floor was flat if you remove the seats.
It just seems like such a cool option for an inexpensive price.

This last part won't help you at all, but this is the best Newfmobile we have. It's only 2wd though so we can only drive it in the summer. We had it custom made. It started as a Dodge, but is an SUV like a Suburban. It's low to the ground. Has 4 bucket seats and the back is HUGE! You could fit 4 Newfs behind the 4 bucket seats. Separate heat and A/C with a Supercharged V12

 

[newfy]

I drive a full size crew cab pickup & all 3 dogs fit in nicely, but if you want to pack your 2 newfs & some future kiddies, I would recommend a Toyota Sienna, my daughter has one & regularly packs the 2 grandkids in (1 & 4)along with the baby carriages, beach chairs, ( & alot of other stuff for trips) a couple of dogs & 3 adults, & then some, she loves it, alot more room then the SUVs.

 

[Erika]

we have a Chevy Tahoe and haul 2 grandkids and 3-4 dogs at a time and theres still room.unless Gandolph decides to spread out........I think he needs an RV..lol