Do Motorhomes Have Isofix?

Chances are, if you have a motorhome, you will end up having at least one child riding with you at some point. But is it safe for children to be riding in a motorhome? Are the seatbelts strong enough to secure a car seat or booster seat? The truth is, to be safe enough for a car seat, your motorhome must have Isofix.

All new vehicles, from cars to vans, have to have Isofix if they are under 8,500 pounds. However, because of most motorhomes’ size, they are almost all much heavier than 8,500 pounds. Therefore, most motorhomes do not have Isofix.  

You always want to make sure your passengers are safe when riding in a motorhome, especially children. It is imperative that the vehicle has the proper anchor points for attaching a car seat. But many people have no idea what Isofix is.

What Is Isofix?

Isofix stands for International Standard for Organization (ISO) Fix. It may also be referred to as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH). In the US, it is known as Lower Universal Anchorage System (LUAS) and Canfix in Canada. Starting in 2002, all vehicles under 8,500 pounds had to have Isofix or the equivalent. 

Isofix is an alternative to using a seatbelt to attach the car seat. Each seat in passenger cars and other vehicles has to have proper attachment points for anchoring child car seats. Not only does it have to be secure, but it also has to be easy and fast for parents to snap in the car seat. 

How to Use the Isofix Attachments

The car seat is simply snapped in with two attachments at the base of the car seat and one at the top. Isofix can hold up to 72 pounds. This includes both the child and the car seat. 

Although these important safety attachments are mandatory, they are not universal, so the Isofix fittings may not work with car seats from the US or Canada and vice versa. However, the countries are working on a universal solution for everyone to use. 

Make Sure You Have the Correct Car Seat

But you also have to know which car seat will fit into the Isofix system in your vehicle. There are three kinds of Isofix car seats, including:

• Semi-Universal uses both a foot prop and a top tether along with connectors. But it is not compatible with all vehicles.
• Universal has a foot prop or a top tether in addition to the attachment points to anchor the child car seats that face forward. 
• Vehicle Specific car seats only use the anchor point to attach the car seat. They only come with certain vehicles, and they are vehicle-specific. 

Do Motorhomes Come with Isofix?

Although most full-sized motorhomes do not have Isofix yet, many camper vans do have this safety feature. Here are some that already offer Isofix: 

Ford Nugget

This classic-styled camper van has been on the road for over 30 years and now offers Isofix with its newer vans. With its compact size of 18 feet and inner roominess, the Ford Nugget is a favorite for many families. 

The Nugget comes in several different styles with a high-roof, pop-up roof for extra space, or with a pop-up plus roof for even more space. Here are some of the features of the standard Nugget:

• 54-inch by 78-inch double bed
• Compact and maneuverable
• Has a living area and kitchen
• Includes a bathroom with a fixed toilet
• Seats five people
• Wi-Fi

Hymer Activ 2.0

The Hymer Activ 2.0 has a lot of amazing features in a small package. Built on a Dodge chassis less than 21 feet long, it even gets decent gas mileage and comes with Isofix. It may be small, but it can hold your family in comfort. 

The Hymer Activ has extra-large cabinets, excellent lighting, and a skylight for natural light. The rear can be a king bed or a murphy bed; it can also be a power sofa. The Hymer includes:

• 6 feet tall inside
• Large six-foot bed
• Pull out dinette that seats three
• Rear video camera
• Seats and sleeps five
• Wi-Fi

Mercedes Marco Polo

For the picky traveler, the Marco Polo has stylish campers with high-quality features and a 7.5-foot ceiling. They are super compact for driving ease but have all the comfort and safety features like Isofix. 

The Marco Polo also comes in a Horizon design that is more stylish and has an engine with a 7G-Tronic plus transmission. It even has an ECO button that lets you turn your vehicle on and off while sitting in traffic to save gas. It also features:

• 16.7 feet long
• Audio 20 USB system
• Central media display with Bluetooth
• Garmin Map Pilot
• Hidden pop-up roof
• Large drawers for storage
• Rear video camera
• Sleeps up to five
• Wi-Fi

VW California

Sleeping two adults and two children, the VW California is roomy enough to be comfortable but small enough to be easy to drive and park. There are two versions, the Ocean and the Coast, and they both have Isofix to keep your kids safe on the road. 

At 20 feet long, the California is a nice cozy size with a 7.2-foot ceiling height for even the tallest people. The elevated roof adds space to hang out with room for two, and you can keep everyone happy with the media center and wi-fi. Here are some other features:

• Awning
• Cruise control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Full kitchen
• Manual pop-up roof
• Walkaround video
• Wi-Fi

Winnebago Travato

One of the favorite campers in North America, the Travato sleeps two but can hold four comfortably depending on which model you get. With Isofix in every van, you do not have to worry about your children’s safety. 

If you get the two twin bed model, you can easily sleep four, or you can get the 49-inch by 77-inch bed that will hold two adults or several children. In addition, the Travato has a roomy kitchen with counter space and a pantry. Other features include:

• 6-feet 3-inch ceiling
• 21 feet long
• Adjustable and removable table
• Blackout shades
• Large closet
• Slide-up 24-inch television
• Underfloor storage
• Wet bath 
• Wi-Fi

Motorhomes with Isofix

There are a couple of motorhomes with Isofix, both made by Adria. Here are the specifications: 

Adria Coral 

The Coral seats five with two styles, the Coral Supreme and the Coral Plus. The main difference is the bed space as the supreme sleeps four and the plus sleeps three. 

The Adria Coral is also spacious, with extra headroom up to 9.5 feet. With Isofix installed in two seats, you can be sure your kids are safe and secure. Some of the other features include:

• 24.6 feet long
• Bedroom with mattress and USB ports
• Double floor with underfloor storage space
• Extra-large bathroom with shower
• Kitchen with oven and fridge
• Panoramic window
• Separate living room
• Sunroof
• Wi-Fi

Adria Matrix

The Matrix is another motorhome with Isofix. This one seats and sleeps up to five people comfortably. At 25 feet long, the Matrix has plenty of room for the whole family too. You can choose from the Matrix Supreme or Plus, with just minor feature differences.

Like the Coral, the Matrix is 9.5 feet tall so that everyone can stand up safely. It also has a stylish garage with LED lights and power sockets. Integrated blinds and panoramic windows mean better views and natural lighting. Here are some other features:

• 25 feet long
• Bedroom with overhead and under-bed storage
• Front pull-down bed 
• Double floor with underfloor storage space
• Extra-large bathroom with shower
• Kitchen with appliances
• Panoramic window
• Separate living room
• Sunroof
• Wi-Fi

Can You Add Isofix To A Motorhome?

If you have a motorhome already that does not have Isofix, it is possible to have it fitted to your vehicle. However, this requires a professional to do so. The job is difficult, and it has to be done to specific standards, so it must be done by a certified professional.

Many older motorhomes are not even equipped with seatbelts in the back, making attaching a car seat anywhere in the vehicle impossible. It is best to take your motorhome to the dealer or a licensed professional to install any safety features like Isofix or seatbelts.