This is fantastic, insightful advice. I agree with your points 100%. Some of these I've learned the hard way over the years with other types of travel, before I ever did any sort of overlanding, so these are really useful tips for anyone traveling with kids. My kids are teenagers now, but it's funny how your suggestions remain entirely relevant even at 13 and 18, LOL. The only thing I would add is making sure to bring more snacks than you'll think you'll need. It's an easy thing for me to forget on a day trip as I tend to eat very light when I do any kind of travel, but hungry kids are grumpy kids. Kind of like lifting the screen time restriction for the long distance travel, I'm more lenient with snacks on trips and allow more fun, junk-food snacks of questionable nutrition that are normally more restricted, which makes it seem extra special, as well as keeping grumpy tummies at bay. Great video!!
Couldn't agree more about snacks! You can never have enough and long days on the trail can really take a tole on kids especially if they are hungry. I often have a snack back just sitting on the passenger seat so I can hand snacks to the kids while out on trips.
I couldn't say it better myself, these are exactly the same things we do. I just found your channel, great content. We are in western colorado maybe we will pass each other on the trail sometime.
I know it's been a long time but just moved to vegas and there's a lot of trails and your videos gave me some ideas. Also noticing you have a jeep and I have an xterra it's a challenge packing everything since we have 3 kids...
We’ve got four daughters and been living off grid and thinking about doing some traveling next year when our rig is done. Great tips! Especially the stopping every couple hours and making it part of the experience. Thank you for the video!
I think it's the most important part. Keeping it a part of the routine makes it so much better. I love when they are asking me when our next trip will be.
Another tip - get your kids some audiobooks to listen to while you’re in the car and out exploring. I’ve done this with my kids and it totally helps the miles melt by. This also has the benefit of engaging them. They end up being quieter as they listen to the story. They engage their creativity as their mind paints the pictures drawn by the words of the story. The public library should have a good selection of audiobooks to choose from.
This is one if the books that we’ve listened to. Lots of adventure and it’s at a level where my 6 year old son was engaged and listening to the story and involved with the characters. It’s also a story that my wife and I could enjoy listening to with the kids.
We currently have a 2yo and newborn, and I'm looking forward to getting my son into camping/overlanding soon and eventually the whole fam. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks! I’m so glad these helped. As the kids are getting older I really like to use the time to teach the kids new skills. They are getting really good at gathering everything needed for building fires and other helpful tasks. Hiking is now a lot more fun and a good way to breakup the day.
@@BackroadExploration that's awesome.. I've heard it definitely helps to assign them things to be in charge of around camp. It's just my 3 yr old and me so I just want to make sure once we start taking longer trips she'll be having fun and enjoying the time outdoors more not asking to go back to the house lol
Backroad Exploration I’m using my 2018 GMC 2500 HD Denali! Going to see if the family can hack it for a season and then hopefully get a tacoma or something similar!
We are about to head out to Colorado in June with a 2,8, & 11 year old. It's a big scary but we're doing it. Where do you pack all of your clothes? We have a jeep that has a cage so it's very limited space in the back.
I really like putting them in packing cubes and then in the Jeep attic which is a mesh net from Blue Ridge Overland gear. It sits above their heads in the back. Another option I use is putting them in packing cubes that are air tight so no dust can get in and putting it under their seats. It can get messy down there so you need a decent bag. But it gives them each their own little spot.
@@BackroadExploration totally going to look into that gear. I'm getting nervous for this trip. We go camping but not like this. I just want it to workout & have a good time. Worry about stuff now and not on the actual trip. So thank you!
A few other things that I think help. The kids love to get out and see stuff. If you get to a nice meadow or stream or River get out and check it out. Let them do a bit of exploring. It helps spend energy and it helps me stop and really take it all in instead of just driving past. We also do a decent amount of hiking. Stopping to hike for 30 minutes can really add to the experience. Take some of these disposable vomit bags. amzn.to/3n4OF1N Kind of gross, but a lifesaver if anyone gets an upset stomach or carsick. Not sure if you are into podcasts but we enjoy listening to them and there are a few that are more kid-oriented that can be fun and give you something to talk about as an entire family. We really like The Big Fib. It’s kinda silly but you learn and the kids really enjoy it. I also like to let my kids look at the map to see where we are and where we are going so they can get an idea of the terrain and ground we are covering. Get to camp before dark. It helps if you are setting things up in the light. It also gives everyone a chance to spend energy before heading to bed for the night. Keep meals simple. We eat well but often repeat things like breakfast sandwiches two days in a row vs 4 different breakfasts type of thing. It makes meal planning easier. Also chose easy cleanup. Meals that will not take all night to clean up after. Assign your kids tasks. The two oldest can help gather firewood or be in charge of camp trash cleanup. Kids love to learn so showing them how to setup the tent, build a fire or gather wood can make a big difference in how they feel about the trip. Be patient laugh things off and expect that everyone is going to be really dirty and you will have a great time.
So I have a question for you ill be headed out this summer with my 3 kids 8 and 6 year old and an 11 month old. What does your sleeping arrangement look like? I have a tapui akuna 4 rugged and a soft top on the tacoma with a bed air mattress where I want to put the older girls, but I'm worried about sleeping with the 9 mo in the tent did you guys do anything special with that?
On our latest trip my wife slept with the older kids in the tent and I slept with the baby in the rig. This worked pretty well she only stirred a few times that might have woke up our other kids but since they were in the tent no problem. Next time I think we will just all sleep in the tent together. She is almost 2 so she sleeps though the whole night no issues
