Wondering what's wrong with your kids then. My experience has been if you have 4 kids you better have at least 9 seats, one for the driver and each kid to have a friend. Even then we run out of seats sometimes and have to leave me or the wife at home (I usually volunteer to stay home, LOL).

 

You can't just strap the kids friends to the roof?

 

I know right, depends on if we are op public roads or not, LOL. Usually the friends behave, its my own kids I want to strap to the roof! And when we are out at the lease they jump up there voluntarily, as soon as we get through the gate.

 

Shame shame....never put kids or their friends on the roof.

Get a hitch storage box and put them in there!

 

No thanks, its way easier for them to hold the spot light and shoot from the roof, and visibility is a lot better on the roof than it is from the hitch box! besides the box is full of dead animals, so that would be child abuse.

 

Trace3rd, that is hilarious...

I grew up in West Virginia. 'spot lighting' happened all the time...

 

This is how I feel too, but I've always been a dodge guy. The Suburban and Expedition feel like you are driving and RV. Nice trucks, but I love my DD. it's much more fun to drive in my opinion.

I also have 3 kids and we regularly take long trips. I've had no problems and we pack a lot of stuff to go with us.

 

The OP has 4 kids, huge difference between 3 and 4. I have 5 but my oldest (19) has been driving for a couple of years and is not a factor, so 4 to haul around normally(11,12,13,15). With 4 kids you need at least 8 seats if its your family vehicle, or you will be leaving either grandma or grandpa at the house when you go to church or out for dinner, not cool! Can you make it work, yes but there will be to many times that you will be kicking yourself for not getting the extra seating. Yes, the DD is more fun to drive than my Suburban, but you buy it to haul people. As much as I like the DD and hate to push something else, for the OP this should be a no brainer, you will need more seats than the DD has available.
That being said, the DD could have easily been a 9 passenger vehicle, especially now that they don't need the front console for a gear shifter. The 3rd row would be tight, but plenty of room for 3 young kids. It probably would not have been a big selling option, but I think Dodge missed an opportunity there for more customer base.

 

Very happy with the DD. I'm 6'2" 275lbs, retired and LOVE the room inside this bugger. Trips to the Finger Lakes, beach etc. with the wife maybe grandson are no problem in my 2012 Crew RWD. Tons of room, good power and mpg from the V6, adequate amenities, no frills (sunroof, NAV etc.).
I tried an Excursion and liked it mostly because I could get into it without taking off my Stetson and it had foldaway steps. But waaaaaay to expensive. So I got the DD, added chrome step bars and take off my hat when I enter, just like church.