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Children in the Bronco

Pops68

Contributor
Bronco Rookie
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
1,698
Loc.
Bazetta Township
Used to ride in the back of my dad's F-100 to camp and back (~100 miles each way) had an aluminum cap on it. Maybe a 6" thick pad to sit on, that was it. This was 'back in the day' 1960's to early '70s. Don't think that is LEGAL today???

Anyway, my concern would be: THE OTHER GUY driving and TEXTING or whatever other distraction there is now days that wasn't there in the 60's. Maybe vehicles weren't made as 'safe' back then (no airbags, crumple zones, etc) but there were alot less distractions when driving.

I didn't baby either of my kids, but was always concerned for their safety (and wife too) - they all know how to drive and are good at it. But I always tell them to be aware of that OTHER GUY!!!!!
 

nvrstuk

Contributor
Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
Joined
Jul 31, 2001
Messages
9,268
I started riding in a Bronco at the age of 14. My kids rode home from the hospital in our Bronco and probably rode 100K miles with us in it, 6 wk vacations w/6500 miles- every trip across the border (pulling a tent trailer and later a 13' hard sided trailer, usuallly a 10ft alum boat on top and surrounded by fishing gear) and to town was in the Bronco for a LONG time.

I do not agree that the little one is safer up front compared to in the back. You have a mirror and the kid can see you the entire time when driving- especially in a Bronco. I was raised before age 14 facing backwards in the rear bench seat of a International Harvester then a Chev Carryall. Kid needs something in the back seat so you pull over. Get in a head on and the back seat is the place to be.

The rear seat NEEDS neck/head supports. Buckets in the back seat is a priority. Your 13 yr old will have permanent injury from a driver when up someone texting rear ends you . Neck and head injuries last forever. Car seats strap into buckets- protect BOTH kids or maybe your wife comes with you and all 4 of you are in it.


Needed-

1- Bucket seats in the rear to protect them

2- Obviously you need shoulder belts in the rear

3- Somehow your other half needs to trust that you built the vehicle to the standards it came with. With your engine and top speeds of 45 with the clutch pushed in, downhill your greatest threat I would think would be a T-bone or a rear end collision because of all the people who shouldn't be driving but are.

Good luck
 

lilthom

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Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
1,694
I was the youngest of six in a 56 Pontiac Chief. I took my naps in the back window. All 8 of us in that car from Missouri to Virginia and back. Seat belts didn't really exist at the time. That was safe.
 
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m_m70

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Sr. Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2001
Messages
1,682
Loc.
Pacifica, CA
I was the youngest of six in a 56 Pontiac Chief. I took my naps in the back window. All 8 of us in that car from Missouri to Virginia and back.
Sounds like the way I grew up but in CA!

Seat belts didn't really exist at the time. That was safe.
No, it was not. But not as bad as doing that in todays times!

In the early '60's, I remember riding in my uncles 50s era flat fender Willys every summer over Rubicon as a kid in the back bouncing all over with my brothers. He had three rigs and lived only 3 miles from the Tahoma entrance. We'd go over that trail 4 or 5 times in our two week vacations we spent with him and my cousins every year. Once on the trail, it only took 15 minutes or so before we would get out and hike to save our butts! Great times and by the late '70's I was driving my own CJ3 over the trail and then moved up to the Bronco in the mid 80's.....Good times and man does time fly! Still like to get out there a couple times a year.
 

nvrstuk

Contributor
Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
Joined
Jul 31, 2001
Messages
9,268
Sounds like the way I grew up but in CA!


No, it was not. But not as bad as doing that in todays times!

In the early '60's, I remember riding in my uncles 50s era flat fender Willys every summer over Rubicon as a kid in the back bouncing all over with my brothers. He had three rigs and lived only 3 miles from the Tahoma entrance. We'd go over that trail 4 or 5 times in our two week vacations we spent with him and my cousins every year. Once on the trail, it only took 15 minutes or so before we would get out and hike to save our butts! Great times and by the late '70's I was driving my own CJ3 over the trail and then moved up to the Bronco in the mid 80's.....Good times and man does time fly! Still like to get out there a couple times a year.
Cool old time stories! :) Must feel like you're driving a Caddy over the Con in a coil spring Bronco compared to the Flat Fender!! Can't blame ya for walking back then for sure! Thanks for sharing!
 

bmc69

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
11,899
I guess your wife would have totally freaked out if she had encountered my 12 yo son out in his own Bronco trail rig.... ;-)

Actually did have a couple of Karens grumble and gripe about that..
 

Yeller

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Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 27, 2012
Messages
6,690
Loc.
Rogers County Oklahoma
I guess your wife would have totally freaked out if she had encountered my 12 yo son out in his own Bronco trail rig.... ;-)

Actually did have a couple of Karens grumble and gripe about that..
Can relate….. I started my nieces and nephews driving my stuff as soon as they could see over the steering wheel. I still give driving lessons as early I can with all friends and family. I’ve had to tell more than one Karen to shove off. It was even worse taking them out to sit on a cliff edge and eat lunch. Bring them up to respect the fragility of life, those around them and that there is nothing in this world worth being afraid of and they become bold, empowered adults that aren’t afraid of the unknown.

Fear is of man, boldness is of God.
 

Colo77Bronco

Contributor
Sr. Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2004
Messages
654
Loc.
Colorado Springs
As an Emergency Physician I can tell you all that without crumple zones, airbags and the modern technology, no classic bronco is even close to as safe as a modern car. Even cars form the early 2000s are dramatically safer. You can have the best roll cage on the planet but, without a helmet, it'll likely break your skull unless you really design it away from your head. Off-road crashes while wheeling are fairly low speed. Any highway speed wreck is a problem. That said, I am building my current Bronco to be my daily driver and will be assuming that risk. My kids are gone however.

Wrecks from back when I started practice in 2001 were significantly more damaging than what I see today. Way more pronounced dead on the scene back then too. Driving an old EB at highway speed is not as bad as a motorcycle button far behind.

Trail and weekend driving at low speed Broncos are great!
 

lilthom

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
1,694
Sounds like the way I grew up but in CA!


No, it was not. But not as bad as doing that in todays times!

In the early '60's, I remember riding in my uncles 50s era flat fender Willys every summer over Rubicon as a kid in the back bouncing all over with my brothers. He had three rigs and lived only 3 miles from the Tahoma entrance. We'd go over that trail 4 or 5 times in our two week vacations we spent with him and my cousins every year. Once on the trail, it only took 15 minutes or so before we would get out and hike to save our butts! Great times and by the late '70's I was driving my own CJ3 over the trail and then moved up to the Bronco in the mid 80's.....Good times and man does time fly! Still like to get out there a couple times a year.
Ah, the good ol' days. The other option for me sleeping was a hammock that hooked across the doors in the back seat. They were steel back then so that worked. Mom says I never got much nap time in the hammock because my older sibs would keep kneeing me from below. Can you imagine how much of a sling shot that would have been for me if my dad had ever hit anything head on?
 

bronkenn

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Bronco Guy
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
2,681
Loc.
Southeast Ohio
My friend was shopping at Bass Pro Shop and stumbled and hit his head on a shelf and died a couple days later. He was definitely safer in the Bronco than shopping at BPS. You know the moral of the story.
 

Chicago71Bronco

Sr. Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
371
Loc.
Chicagoland
Had the same dilemma about getting the kids in the Bronco. Mine are 6 and 3. Just a few months ago I replaced the stock rear seat with a fold and tumble (mainly for the headrests) and bought some SxS harnesses. Really happy with it. I’ll see if I can get a picture when I get home.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Sendero

Contributor
Sr. Jr. Member
Joined
May 12, 2022
Messages
75
Can relate….. I started my nieces and nephews driving my stuff as soon as they could see over the steering wheel. I still give driving lessons as early I can with all friends and family. I’ve had to tell more than one Karen to shove off. It was even worse taking them out to sit on a cliff edge and eat lunch. Bring them up to respect the fragility of life, those around them and that there is nothing in this world worth being afraid of and they become bold, empowered adults that aren’t afraid of the unknown.

Fear is of man, boldness is of God.
In all fairness, you put an ls in a bronco so I’m not sure we can trust your judgement… 😅

In all seriousness, well said
 

HoosierDaddy

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Bronco Guru
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
2,775
We kept the kiddo up front where the cage and belts had better coverage. Strapped in with her car seat harness.
She was safe.
 

sprdv1

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REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,964
Looking for some bronco experce to weight in on my dilemma with the wife. So I recently finished building my 69 bronco and it's a blast to drive around. I have two sons 13 and 3 and my wife only let's me take the 13 yr old for joy rides but refused to put a booster seat in the back for the 3 year old. I obviously think it should be totally fine to take the toddler in the bronco as well I mean I'm sure EVERYONE did it on the 60s and 70s. Little Guy gets so sad when I go for a bronco drive and he has to stay home with Mama. Thoughts?

Absolutely but make sure you have a cage, and them strapped in
 
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