Does anyone know anything about Joovy Caboose Ultralight?

[verycherry]

I am on a permanent hunt for that most elusive of things, the perfect double. DS3 is 3.4 and DS4 has just turned 1.

DS3 has just started walking (CP) and is fiercely independant, he hates sitting in a pushchair, in fact just refuses to now. However, he is just not able to walk all the time - and won't be for a very long time.

Have got an Emmaljunga with toddler seat which was great until DS4 sat up, and double nipper - again great but DS3 will not sit in it.

Currently using single nipper for DS4 and wheelchair for DS3 when out with DP, then single nipper with DS3 sat on hood when alone which = not safe!

Have just seen the Joovy Caboose Ultralight on Mothercare website and have googled but most reviews/users are american. Has anyone here seen one in the flesh or used one/got one? I think DS3 would be happier using it as the back seat is more grown up iyswim. Am concerned it might be a bit ricketty and cumbersome? Would love to hear anyone views/opinions or any alternative ideas!

[onadietcokebreak]

I acoasted a lady in next once so I could get a look.

It seemed like a great solution but I expect it would be a bit cumbersome to push.

[MonkeysPunk]

I had an american brand one (I forget the name now) which looked identical - infact, I think Joovy bought the design off them and renamed it to sell.

I used it with 3 kid on one occasion and it was fine - I had one in front seat, one in back seat - and one standing! It worked fine on pavements. It was quite manouverable and quite lightweight too.

It seemed very strong (I had bought mine 2nd hand and it cleaned up nicely), It was a great solution to your problem and was far easier than using a buggy board on the back of a normal buggy! (No problems with my long stride or height for pushing as I'm tall too). I used an ordinary tandem raincover over mine and it was fab to be able to keep both kids try in the rain.

The one I had - did have swivel wheels at the front and really wasn't so bad to push as I had imagined it to be - much more like a single than a tandem on the manouverability.

[StantonLacy]

Yes, Me ! I've got one and recently replied to a thread on here about doubles with my opinion about it - have tried to cut and paste, but it won't work,(and am too lazy to type it all out again! ) so heres the link to that thread :
Joovy Caboose

Hope it helps, ask away with any more questions you've got !

[verycherry]

Thanks all, just looked at the other thread - think you have answered all my ?? Stanton, think I am likely to feel same way as you about it. Can see is prob my best option but also think I am not going to love it and I so do want to love it! Especially at £275...... Also really hankering after a p&t but know it won't work for me.

Must do something soon though, am off to watch DS1 play footie this aft across enormous field with DS3 perched precariously on the nipper hood! Bet the Joovy is crap on grass and off road though, is it??

My brain had withered utterly since DS4 and am now completely incapable of making a decision! Should I get the Joovy????

[StantonLacy]

verycherry you are most welcome !

Hmmm....whether to get it or not...Well, as much as I have probably underwhelmed you with my lack of enthusiasm for it - it has been an absolute lifesaver for me at times. Today, we went and visited the grandparents, a good twenty minutes walk away (my pace, not DS' !)He is great on the way there, but time to go home and it is whinging all the way. But with this, he just sits himself down happy as larry. We got home sooo quickly and with all of us in a good mood - a rare occurence, but a nice one .

Do you know, I have never even attempted it on grass ? The weather has been so crap lately that verges by us are pure mud, haven't dared to venture off tarmac ! So, sorry, no help there !

I am as indecisive as you, so please don't make me say "yay" or "nay"....I was wavering for ages about it. Kept thinking a buggy board would be sufficient, but wasn't. Got mine from mothercare and managed to get 20% off with code JLK, it might still work.

The other option we looked at was a Kidsit, not sure if it would be any good for you ? Seems to get very good reviews. I was also very tempted by an ABC adventure buggy with toddler seat - but even with their january sale it's still too pricey for me!

Good luck with it all !

[StantonLacy]

Oooh, have just remembered - how about a strolli rider ? The new version has a comfier seat and safety harness, also gets fantastic reviews. Do you think he would like that ? From what I've read of it, they are much envied by other children - looks more fun and less babyish than a board or pushchair I suppose !

[verycherry]

stanton thank you, I feel as if I have my own own personal shopper!

The kidsit looks good but don't think he would be able to maintain his balance for any period of time without some support around his hips. The strolli rider looks great, I think it could be a real option, am going to try and see if I can find one in rl to look at.

I obsessed over the ABC adventure buggy with toddler seat before DS4 was born, it looks fab but I'm with you on the price. I don't think DS3 would sit in the toddler seat now either, he won't sit in/on anything that is too much like a pushchair seat as, apparently, he is not a baby anymore! Even when he is, quite literally on his knees, he will not sit in a pushchair. Difficult? Bloody nightmare he is!

Am off to stare at Joovy website again.

[MonkeysPunk]

I've been looking closely at the abc everest with toddler seat too - I just got sent a revised price list from phil now - the reclining toddler seat package (reclining seat takes 25kg as opposed to 15kg in the static toddler seat) is now £499 and now includes the 4 wheel stability kit too!

I've been very tempted - but I think it's probably too late for me to get one - and I'm probably better off struggling with buggy board for the odd days I need older child to rest a bit.

I also have to remind myself that at over a meter long when folded - it's going to be difficult for me to get the ABC buggy in our car boot.

The Strolli rider is something I would consider too - will look into that.

Does anyone have any experience of one - does it trundle along empty okay - or do you need to take it off and carry it when not in use?

[MonkeysPunk]

(sorry I didn't clarify in the above post - that It was the single everest buggy with reclining toddler seat that was now also including the 4 wheel stability kit at that same price).

[verycherry]

monkey I have been looking at the ABC with my friend who will have an 18m gap between her two, she has emailed Phil too, but will let her know price includes the stability kit.

I am still v tempted but can't justify the price if DS3 won't sit in the toddler seat. Had a bit of a nightmare getting to preschool this morning as he has definitely grown in last few weeks and is now tipping the single nipper when on top so have to get something quickly.... I just don't know what to do!

[MonkeysPunk]

i would get your friend to email Phil again to confirm price revision. He sent me a revised price list. It's on that. You can also buy the front mount bar for reclining toddler seat for an extra 39 which lets you have the option of children facing each other. I looked again at video's but still think it's going to be too small. Have seen baby jogger classic double new on ebay for 249 which would have a large enough seat for each child i think in my case.

[verycherry]

My friend has mailed, we have both been checking out youtube clips of the ABC, think it would be great for her but am sure DS3 won't sit in toddler seat happily.

Have just ordered the strolli rider, will let you know how I get on with it - should be here in 3 days. Think DS3 will like it, but am not sure if he will tolerate it for long as his posture is an issue. I do think it will solve my immediate problem for short trips to preschool etc though. Will update!

[MonkeysPunk]

hi, i looked at a double abc at the school gates with toddler seat on. The mum has twin girls of about 3y and a boy of 4.5y. I have to say they looked very cramped in there. The seats are quite small. Definately not right for us as my youngest is 2y. If i had a single buggy with toddler seat i could not lift eldest in or out of the top seat. Buggy seat would not allow eldest child headroom. There would be little headroom for either child. Overall i think the seats are small.

[letsblowthistacostand]

I had a Joovy when we were in the US. It is light, strong and fairly easy to push. Not rickety at all.

However. I didn't feel that either child was that comfortable in it. In order for the older child to sit, the younger one has to sit completely upright. Neither seat is padded much and the hood gets in the way unless it's completely open, and then you can't even see the child in the front seat. To top it all off, there isn't enough storage space--you can't hang stuff off the handle without braining the passenger and the underseat bag is too small.

If your pushchair use is limited to the school run and short errands then it would be fine, but it's not an everything pushchair.

[StantonLacy]

verycherry very excited for you in a "wish I had bought a Strolli" kind of way...definitely let us know how it is ! I think I remember someone saying that they wished they'd had a t shirt printed with all the info about how much it was etc - just to save them having to tell everyone who asked about it !

Glad my extensive (some might say obsessive) research has come in useful to someone !

Must say my experience of the Joovy is very different to letsblowthiscostastand - might possibly be an older model than the Ultralight ? Mine is, shall we say, comparitively rickety - compared to a Bugaboo, anyway. DS can still sit on the back seat perfectly well when the seat is reclined just enough for DD to sleep (older model only had two seat positions, I think?)And, I personally think that the storage bag is lovely and big - fits two kidsize rucksacks and various shopping bags plus raincover nicely!
Goes to show how two people can have very different experiences of something, doesn't it ?!

[verycherry]

Thanks letsblow, I am still thinking about the Joovy, but suspect I'll feel a bit ambivalent about it like both you and Stanton.

Well, the strolli arrived today - bloody good I reckon, ordered it at 12 yesterday and was delivered (free) at 2 today!

I think I love it! Its been a bit of a mare as, although I rang and was told its compatible with my Nipper 360, I have had to cut a slit in the seat cover (which is bolted to the nipper frame) in order to attach it. However, it does'nt really matter as can't be seen/does'nt affect performance. Also I cut a slit on both sides as was initially attempting to attach it the wrong way round .

Once I'd got it on - which should be easy if you have a brain (unlike me) - DS3 got on it willingly and was v excited, so a hands down winner already.

I've been for a spin to the shops, DS3 loves it, was very stable and secure and looked comfy. Its a bit odd to start with as you have to walk a little to the side to accommodate it, but I soon got used to that.

It looks and feels really well made and good quality, as it only attaches to one side of the pushchair frame it handles corners really well - much, much better than a buggy board. It goes up and down kerbs no probs aand handled bumpy road/pavement with ease, its not at all rickety and you can't really hear the wheels as you push.

It did make the pushchair heavier to push, but then I was pushing another 13+kg plus whatever the strolli weighs so hardly surprising.

Obviously I've only had a little test run with it, but so far it totally meets all my and DS3 needs.

Oh and it attracted a fair amount of attention, two people in the shop stopped to talk about it and a car actually slowed down as it passed us whilst its occupants gawped and pointed!!

I am still wondering about the Joovy though, am currently watching one on ebay.... I really should'nt but am almost tempted to get that too.. I don't need it though, I really MUST control myself!

[verycherry]

Mean't to say, when I showed DS the Strolli and the Joovy on the computer yesterday he said he did'nt like the Strolli but did like, and would sit on, the Joovy. Which did me in as I'd just bought the Strolli.

When he saw and went on the Strolli I thought oooh good he's forgotten about the Joovy.... Oh no, 'mummy I like this, I like it as much as my new pushchair with the seat I will sit on, when are we getting our new pushchair?'...... Aaarrgghhh bloody kids.

Obv the moral is to NOT ask him what he thinks/wants!