In The Market For A Quad Stroller

[MarinaVanessa]

So I decided to invest some of my income tax refund on a quad stroller. Right now I use a Sit'n Stand double stroller and like the narrow feel and maneuverability but now that my DS is 8 months old I'm not able to wear him anymore and I already have 2 other infants (1 year olds). I also have a very small 3 year old that's the size of a 2 year old that has trouble walking so needless to say we haven't gone on a walk in a looooong time.

I was looking around online for a quad stroller and reviews don't help. Half say "yes buy it" while the others say "stop, don't buy it". Do any of you use a quad stroller that can give first hand experience?? My toughest hurdle is not being able to see models in person and test them out before I buy one. They're all online orders.

The stroller has to:
.Seat 4
.Accommodate an infant car seat or have an infant conversion kit that I can buy separate (for future use)
.Be easy to maneuver
.Be light enough to be picked up by me with no other help
.Fold up to fit into the back of my Sienna van

Anyone have any first hand experience? Reviews? Ideas?

[Blackcat31]

Other threads about quad strollers

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=stroller+-+4+seat

[sharlan]

I love my Valco Baby triple stroller. You can get the step for a 4th child. My older kids sit on the front with no problems. I have the joey seat so I can use it for either 2 or 3 kids. I've had it for a 1 1/2 yrs and have been really happy with it.

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AlCdOoj7zHQURgkq7jMLTBWbvZx4?fr=yfp-t-310-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=valco%20baby%20tri%20mode%20stroller

[josie2014]

I did bought quadruple stroller,but I bought used one from foundations.You always going to read some bad reviews.
Here is the thing sometimes the front wheels stock OMG takes almost 10 minutes to get going crazy with 4 kids ...especially if they start to cry.But the foundations was the one with best reviews on amazon.
Has double brakes so when you walk you have to hold the hand brakes all the time,no big deal.But if you walk for longer than hour you going to be so tired,where I live have so many hills.I was planning to buy triple stroller but I decided for quadruple because I can put diaper bag in one seat if I have one more child I have extra seat.Easy to clean,the seats do recliner but just little bit,is really heavy around 60 pounds...I live my out side I bought rain cover.

[TwinKristi]

I have this one. It's ok. Not a lot of choices when it comes to quad strollers and fitting in the back of a Sienna. This one folds up and would probably take up the entire trunk area, but it would fit. I can lift it and such myself so I would think you could too. It's definitely a task, but it's possible. The other options were all the 4 straight options not the 2 x 2.

[sarah33]

If you don't have to put in the back of your car, but could use the attachment on the back ( like folks do for wheelchairs), then I would recommend a RunAbout. I love, love, love mine! I had seat covers custom made from a lady on Etsy, and I get a lot of compliments on it. I even had a sign made for it with my logo and phone number so we advertised on our daily walks.

[sarah33]

Oh, and I found mine on craigslist for $600; it is a 5-seater. The seat covers, canopy and basket cover were an extra $250. Really worth it though. It pushes very easily (and I had two 3-year-olds, a 2 year old and two babies in it). Sometimes, I would only have four kids and used the middle seat for backpack/supplies. I also don't have to worry about the tires going flat, and it has a sun shade to give the kids some protection and privacy. Plus, all of the seats can recline. Love it!

[MarinaVanessa]

I love my Valco Baby triple stroller. You can get the step for a 4th child. My older kids sit on the front with no problems. I have the joey seat so I can use it for either 2 or 3 kids. I've had it for a 1 1/2 yrs and have been really happy with it.

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt...ode%20stroller

I wish I could just use a triple but I need a quad A step for one of the kids wouldn't work for me unfortunately. It has to seat 4. Right now I have a non-walker (my DS), 2 barely walkers (the one year olds) and a small 3yo that has physical and developmental delays. I tried using my sit n stand with him once and he kept falling out. He doesn't hold on.

I still tried to look for what you were saying but I didn't find anything under that name that carries 4. The link took me to a yahoo search??

I would still like to check it out though. DO you have a link to a pic that has it where there are 4 kids in it? That would help tremendously.

I did bought quadruple stroller,but I bought used one from foundations.You always going to read some bad reviews.
Here is the thing sometimes the front wheels stock OMG takes almost 10 minutes to get going crazy with 4 kids ...especially if they start to cry.But the foundations was the one with best reviews on amazon.
Has double brakes so when you walk you have to hold the hand brakes all the time,no big deal.But if you walk for longer than hour you going to be so tired,where I live have so many hills.I was planning to buy triple stroller but I decided for quadruple because I can put diaper bag in one seat if I have one more child I have extra seat.Easy to clean,the seats do recliner but just little bit,is really heavy around 60 pounds...I live my out side I bought rain cover.

The foundations stroller is the one that I was leaning towards more because it seems to be the lightest and it's fold-able. I can also install a Graco infant car seat to it (or 2) if I have small infants in the future.

I was thinking about the double brakes and even though the idea of having to hold the brake at the handle down the whole time that I'm pushing it was a little iffy for me I do realize that it's a safety feature. If I'm going straight on a level surface for a long time I can always wrap a piece of velcro to it or something. I do like the fact that it's there if I'm going up or down a hill.

How difficult is it to push up a hill fully loaded with kids and stuff? The park that we walk to is a 15 minute walk mostly downhill and of course that means that after a good run in the park it's mostly uphill (not a super steep slope but still, you feel it KWIM??).

I have this one. It's ok. Not a lot of choices when it comes to quad strollers and fitting in the back of a Sienna. This one folds up and would probably take up the entire trunk area, but it would fit. I can lift it and such myself so I would think you could too. It's definitely a task, but it's possible. The other options were all the 4 straight options not the 2 x 2.

Yep, this is the one I'm leaning towards. It taking up the whole trunk isn't a problem. I don't carry anything now except my double stroller anyway. I havn't seen 4 straight options. I'll look into that. Thanks!

If you don't have to put in the back of your car, but could use the attachment on the back ( like folks do for wheelchairs), then I would recommend a RunAbout. I love, love, love mine! I had seat covers custom made from a lady on Etsy, and I get a lot of compliments on it. I even had a sign made for it with my logo and phone number so we advertised on our daily walks.

I was hoping not to spend more than $500 so spending $$$ on the RunAbout one alone then adding more money for an attachment is something that I'll have to think about. Do you happen to know which attachment I would need? I hope it has a ramp. I'll have to look more into this too.

Oh, and I found mine on craigslist for $600; it is a 5-seater. The seat covers, canopy and basket cover were an extra $250. Really worth it though. It pushes very easily (and I had two 3-year-olds, a 2 year old and two babies in it). Sometimes, I would only have four kids and used the middle seat for backpack/supplies. I also don't have to worry about the tires going flat, and it has a sun shade to give the kids some protection and privacy. Plus, all of the seats can recline. Love it!

The ease of pushing one of these makes me really consider this as an option.

I think I remember you saying you bought one. Was that you? You were looking for a basket? I don't know how lucky I'd be to find one near me but I'd be willing to drive out 2 or 3 hours for one for the right price. Further if it was crazy cheap.

Thank you ladies! lots to consider! Now to read all of those threads BC posted

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I had seat covers custom made from a lady on Etsy,

Will you share which Etsy seller you used? I was thinking of doing this same thing...

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I think I remember you saying you bought one. Was that you? You were looking for a basket? I don't know how lucky I'd be to find one near me but I'd be willing to drive out 2 or 3 hours for one for the right price. Further if it was crazy cheap.

It was me, and here's a warning...be a smarter shopper than I was. I had to drive to get it, so I made the decision from afar, paid first, and then went to pick it up. It turns out to have problems (which I didn't notice until I got it home). I've now traded a parent two free days tuition in exchange for trying to fix it, but he's having trouble. The handle was rusted or otherwise stuck into a low, low position, so I couldn't use it. I'll let you know what I think if he manages to fix it...

[TwinKristi]

Yep, this is the one I'm leaning towards. It taking up the whole trunk isn't a problem. I don't carry anything now except my double stroller anyway. I havn't seen 4 straight options. I'll look into that. Thanks!


I was hoping not to spend more than $500 so spending $$$ on the RunAbout one alone then adding more money for an attachment is something that I'll have to think about. Do you happen to know which attachment I would need? I hope it has a ramp. I'll have to look more into this too.


Thank you ladies! lots to consider! Now to read all of those threads BC posted

This is the one I was referring to as the 4 straight, but you mentioned it in your post so you know about it. It is very pricey though and doesn't fit in the back of a Sienna! By the time you add the hitch attachments, accessories, etc. you're looking at a huge investment. $300 for the car attachment and no ramp, $160 for a cover while its on the back plus the cost of the stroller is $1500 plus shipping!
I have a Target Red Card so I saved 5% plus free shipping and had a $10 coupon or something plus it was less than it is now so I didn't spend very much on it.

[lpperry]

I have the Foundations Quad Stroller. I bought mine off Criagslist. It has been a great daycare stroller. We take long walks too and while it is heavy to push, it's fine. It is pretty tough on hills.

You would not be able to put velcro around the bar you have to hold down while pushing the stroller. You have to hold it down pretty hard. I hated it, so I just disabled that feature, but cutting that cable. Now I can just push the stroller like a regular stroller and use the regular break. I have never had a problem with the stroller. There is no way I could push that beast while squeezing the extra bar. That is the worst design I have ever seen.

While the stroller is fine for daycare, I would hate it if I had quads and used it for daily use. If we had the money, I would have bought an ABC Quad Buggy. http://adventurebuggycompany.com/quadbuggy.htm It was close to $1000 and I got the Foundations quad for about $250 on Craigslist, but I still really wish I would have bought the expensive ABC Quad Buggy. It looks awesome and I would have also used it as a double for my own kids.

[TwinKristi]

I have the Foundations Quad Stroller. I bought mine off Criagslist. It has been a great daycare stroller. We take long walks too and while it is heavy to push, it's fine. It is pretty tough on hills.

You would not be able to put velcro around the bar you have to hold down while pushing the stroller. You have to hold it down pretty hard. I hated it, so I just disabled that feature, but cutting that cable. Now I can just push the stroller like a regular stroller and use the regular break. I have never had a problem with the stroller. There is no way I could push that beast while squeezing the extra bar. That is the worst design I have ever seen.

While the stroller is fine for daycare, I would hate it if I had quads and used it for daily use. If we had the money, I would have bought an ABC Quad Buggy. http://adventurebuggycompany.com/quadbuggy.htm It was close to $1000 and I got the Foundations quad for about $250 on Craigslist, but I still really wish I would have bought the expensive ABC Quad Buggy. It looks awesome and I would have also used it as a double for my own kids.

I put a zip tie on mine to hold it down! It IS a pain to push while holding it though. It hurt my hands! It would cause carpal tunnel in a short period of time if used daily! I'm sure some of you are more fit than I am, but when I was pushing 4 toddlers in it I was getting leg cramps after about 1/2mi! I hate leg cramps!!

[MarinaVanessa]

I can't believe how helpful this has all been.

After considering everything and reading a lot more about each and every option that was posted and in the other threads (as well as some more derping around on the internet) I found out a few things.

The quad side by side stroller like in the picture above seems to have issues with difficulty pushing a lot mainly because of weight. It seems that often times if there is a lot of weight (like if there are 4 older toddlers in it) the weight pushes down on the braking system which weighs down on the wheels making it as if you were pushing while holding down on the break some. This issue was resolved simply by disabling and removing the brake system on the handle and just leaving and using the foot brake. I don't know if that will help any of you ladies with the Foundation stroller or not.

So far I LOVE the Roundabout jogger stroller for four but could never get one at the new price. I nearly fainted when I saw it. ::

I went online just for the heck of it and found an ad for a triple not too far from me and I think the frame is the same as the 4 seater. I'm waiting to hear back from the manufacturer. There is another triple one a bit further away for a little more money but looks good and already has a canopy. I REALLY want one. Both are priced EXTREMELY well.

If neither leads turn out well I will go with the foundations quad stroller. Like suggested I will look at a used one first and test it before I buy it.

I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that the ads are real and not scams and that the strollers are still available. At this point I could buy the 2 used Roundabout jogging strollers for less than the price of 1 new Foundations stroller. Crossing my fingers, eyes, legs... everything.

[SunnyDay]

I had the Foundations quad and was happy with it. I bought it used and the handbar that you had to push down had already been disabled. I found it pretty easy to push, it did help if most of the weight was in the back two seats and there were lighter children in the front. I was able to use it with 3 month olds by just reclining the back seats. Good luck!