We love it!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Well designed for a stroller of this size

Cons: Price

The Bottom Line: 
We love this stroller and would pay full retail if we hadn't found one in excellent used condition.

Author's Review
I debated a long time about this purchase and when one came up on the local craigslist, I started reading reviews heavily to decide if I was ready to drop so much money on a stroller. I got a great deal on mine, but would seriously consider paying retail if I had to because I LOVE IT!! My older son was almost 3 when we first bought this stroller and it has been a lifesaver for him. He's a runner and an explorer, so it's been so nice to have a place designated for him to be while we're out. My twins were 4 1/2 months when we bought the stroller and we had a good experience with being able to strap in their carriers.

Big brother is now almost 4 and he still rides without any problems, although he is just about to the point where he doesn't tire enough while walking to make taking this stroller along on short trips worth it. The twins are 17 months and are still doing great in it! I'm not quite ready to pass this one along, but I have a feeling that we are nearing the end of our days with it, simply because my oldest doesn't need it anymore.

Here are a few of the pros and cons with this stroller:

Size: It is a large stroller, but I don't find it to be any more bulky than any other double stroller, just longer. One of the reviews I read said it did not fit into their Durango, so I worried that it would not fit into our Trailblazer. When we measured, I didn't think it would work, but it did. It does take up quite a bit of the cargo space, but it fits and we still have room for most everything else....we just have to be a little more creative in how we pack things in! The snack trays and canopies come off very easily, which takes the length of the stroller from 63" to 55". Folded up, I think it's actually less bulky than my single Graco stroller. The seats are nothing special...not terribly cushioned....but I imagine that's the case to help cut down on the bulk.

Weight: Again, this is a large stroller, so it's going to be on the heavy side (I think it's around 35 pounds). It is made out of lightweight aluminum, which some reviewers said felt cheap to them, but if they'd used something more heavy duty, you wouldn't be able to lift it. The way the stroller folds up, the handle rests in the middle, which helps when lifting to not make you feel off balance. I'm a pretty small gal, but I have no trouble lifting the stroller in and out of my Trailblazer.

Ride: Considering the amount of weight you're pushing around, the Big Caboose is fairly easy to maneuver. I do have to put some muscle into it when I'm making turns, but hey, who doesn't need an extra workout now and then? I pretty much feel like I'm pushing a stretch limo, but I was surprised at how easily I was able to weave in and out of clothing racks at the mall. The ride is very smooth overall.

Sit & Stand Feature: My 4 year old weighs about 35 pounds and is 36 inches tall and has plenty of room to grow in his space on the stroller. I imagine he'll quit riding more because he wants to be independent than because he doesn't fit anymore. It's not a super roomy space, but he is able to use the little seat even with the car seats attached. A taller child might have a harder time with that, but once the carseats are not longer used, there is plenty of room. One thing that can be annoying is that when my toddler is sitting, he tends to want to drag his feet on the ground or on the wheels. Once, he bumped the wheel brake and we came to a jolting stop. I would guess that this would be an issue with any stroller of a similar design.

Cons: The undercarriage basket is hard to access, especially when the carseats are in use. It has a lot of room, but it was awkward to retrieve my diaper bag when I needed it and I had a hard time finding an opening to squeeze a bag through after I had made a purchase. I haven't used the stroller enough without the carseats to know if it will be easier once they are gone.

There are no cup holders for mom and dad. Each seat has a mesh pocket on the back to stow small things, but I'm not sure what I'd do if I wanted to take along a drink. Joovy does offer an accessory cup holder for mom and dad, but it runs something like $25...not bad if you need it, but it is an extra expense that's frustrating when you've just paid so much for the stroller.

The buckles open fairly easily. My 4 year old is able to unbuckle himself without any problem, which gets to be an issue when he's bored and ready to leave. On the flip side, he has a hard time re-buckling himself. I wish that were opposite....easy to buckle so he feels independent in getting himself strapped in, but hard to unbuckle so I didn't have to worry about him taking off if I turn my back for a second.

Overall, I've been very pleased with the Big Caboose. It has more than met our needs and we've gotten plenty of use out of it! I feel much more independent with it....trips to the store used to be daunting with a toddler and twins, but I know now that I can manage them all on my own with this stroller!