"Can borrow your tractor?"

[jenkinsph]

If anyone is insensitive enough to want to borrow my tractors I just tell them no. Most neighbors and friends I will help out on when I can. I loan tools on RARE occasions only as I use them to make my living.

 

[STx]

My true friends, I would loan just about anything to without hesitation and they'll do the same for me. That said, my true friends would never ask to borrow my tractor, they'd offer to pay me to come do a job for them, I'd refuse payment and do the job after which, we'd all have dinner and wine/beer.

A neighbor, no way they're borrowing anything.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

People think the FEL on a compact is good for digging their project. Sorry, but they don't dig worth a flip in our clay soil.

I come with the tractor if it gets used on neighbor projects.

 

[STx]

People think the FEL on a compact is good for digging their project. Sorry, but they don't dig worth a flip in our clay soil.

I come with the tractor if it gets used on neighbor projects.

I tell those people something I read here once. "It's called a front end LOADER, not a front end DIGGER." That usually takes care of that.

 

[Creamer]

My true friends, I would loan just about anything to without hesitation and they'll do the same for me. That said, my true friends would never ask to borrow my tractor, they'd offer to pay me to come do a job for them, I'd refuse payment and do the job after which, we'd all have dinner and wine/beer.

A neighbor, no way they're borrowing anything.

Absolutely! Done this many times. It is the best way to have friends.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have never had anyone ask to borrow my tractor. My brother in law can use anyone anytime he wants and I can use his but that just doesn't happen. Anytime he needs a tractor like I have, I go with it to do the work. Mostly it is my backhoe that is needed for a hole to bury one of his animals that has died. Sometimes he will ask me to come over and smooth out some dirt close to a building. He is not very good at judging distances with his NH tractor with cab, so I bring my little B26 over, he becomes the spotter and we get within a couple inches of a building to grade out the dirt fill.
If it is a bigger job, I may use my LS P7010 and again, my B-I-L becomes the spotter which is a requirement for me with the cab on my LS, it is very hard to see the front of the bucket.
I also have done a little work for each of my neighbors. None of them ask to borrow my tractor but ask if I could do some small chore for them. They never offer to pay and I wouldn't accept if offered.

Just last summer a neighbor asked if I would bring my backhoe over and dig a hole for him to bury his Great Dane dog. I swear that dog was as big as a calf and the dirt was almost like concrete but we got it done. No way was he going to dig that hole with a pick before the dog started to smell.
Every neighbor around me has gotten a favor or two or three from my equipment but never asked to borrow anything. I think that they are all professional enough(we are in a farming community) to know that borrowing a tractor is just not done but a good neighbor will help out when asked. What with me being retired, just an opportunity to do some work is enough. Many times, I have seen work needing to be done and just volunteered to come over and do it whether it is tractor work or just handy man needs. Last week I built a door for a pump house for my neighbor. He had a guy that was suppose to do that, but had not done it since last summer, so I did the work from some scrap lumber and siding that I had, even put some insulation on the back side. I will eventually mount if also when he (actually his wife does most of the work because he has COPD) gets ready to supervise.

 

[kryptzard]

I have never had anyone ask to borrow my tractor. My brother in law can use anyone anytime he wants and I can use his but that just doesn't happen. Anytime he needs a tractor like I have, I go with it to do the work. Mostly it is my backhoe that is needed for a hole to bury one of his animals that has died. Sometimes he will ask me to come over and smooth out some dirt close to a building. He is not very good at judging distances with his NH tractor with cab, so I bring my little B26 over, he becomes the spotter and we get within a couple inches of a building to grade out the dirt fill.
If it is a bigger job, I may use my LS P7010 and again, my B-I-L becomes the spotter which is a requirement for me with the cab on my LS, it is very hard to see the front of the bucket.
I also have done a little work for each of my neighbors. None of them ask to borrow my tractor but ask if I could do some small chore for them. They never offer to pay and I wouldn't accept if offered.

Just last summer a neighbor asked if I would bring my backhoe over and dig a hole for him to bury his Great Dane dog. I swear that dog was as big as a calf and the dirt was almost like concrete but we got it done. No way was he going to dig that hole with a pick before the dog started to smell.
Every neighbor around me has gotten a favor or two or three from my equipment but never asked to borrow anything. I think that they are all professional enough(we are in a farming community) to know that borrowing a tractor is just not done but a good neighbor will help out when asked. What with me being retired, just an opportunity to do some work is enough. Many times, I have seen work needing to be done and just volunteered to come over and do it whether it is tractor work or just handy man needs. Last week I built a door for a pump house for my neighbor. He had a guy that was suppose to do that, but had not done it since last summer, so I did the work from some scrap lumber and siding that I had, even put some insulation on the back side. I will eventually mount if also when he (actually his wife does most of the work because he has COPD) gets ready to supervise.

I never loan tools to anyone who can't afford to replace them. I had a guy ask about using the tractor for some digging tonight. I sort of shifted the discussion to rentals but didn't want to just say no even though that's always what I tell them.

How do you guys deal with these types of questions?

I paid way too much to loan out my pride and joy.

I always say "NO, please don't take offense, it is too big of a liability for me". Unless I am willing to do the work myself for them, then it's "what can we barter?" Always an even playing field... making gifts in life reciprocal... speak soft and clear.

 

[kryptzard]

I always say "NO, please don't take offense, it is too big of a liability for me". Unless I am willing to do the work myself for them, then it's "what can we barter?" Always an even playing field... making gifts in life reciprocal... speak soft and clear.

My neighbor charges me cash to dig my culvert out every couple years, ... I still don't have a back hoe... but I have no prob paying him.

 

[paulfun9]

No! Its a very simple word and one I use when almost anyone wants to borrow anything!

 

[kryptzard]

I always say "NO, please don't take offense, it is too big of a liability for me". Unless I am willing to do the work myself for them, then it's "what can we barter?" Always an even playing field... making gifts in life reciprocal... speak soft and clear.

I never loan tools to anyone who can't afford to replace them. I had a guy ask about using the tractor for some digging tonight. I sort of shifted the discussion to rentals but didn't want to just say no even though that's always what I tell them.

How do you guys deal with these types of questions?

I paid way too much to loan out my pride and joy.

If it is a good friend, a neighbor, or someone who is otherwise a good guy, I will bring my tractor over and do the work while he watches and directs. I will bring my tractor to the church and work there. When our house in CA burned down a few years back, a member of our church, who is a retired electrician, drove 500 miles to help us with the electrical part of the rebuild. On his own dime. I did some work at his house a few weeks ago.

Otherwise, it is just not going to happen.

There is one person I will let take my tractor -- he is a very close friend, closer than a brother. Ex-marine, hunting companion, 25+ years clean and sober, honest, and very careful. No one with lesser qualifications should even ask.

I have never had anyone ask to borrow my tractor. My brother in law can use anyone anytime he wants and I can use his but that just doesn't happen. Anytime he needs a tractor like I have, I go with it to do the work. Mostly it is my backhoe that is needed for a hole to bury one of his animals that has died. Sometimes he will ask me to come over and smooth out some dirt close to a building. He is not very good at judging distances with his NH tractor with cab, so I bring my little B26 over, he becomes the spotter and we get within a couple inches of a building to grade out the dirt fill.
If it is a bigger job, I may use my LS P7010 and again, my B-I-L becomes the spotter which is a requirement for me with the cab on my LS, it is very hard to see the front of the bucket.
I also have done a little work for each of my neighbors. None of them ask to borrow my tractor but ask if I could do some small chore for them. They never offer to pay and I wouldn't accept if offered.

Just last summer a neighbor asked if I would bring my backhoe over and dig a hole for him to bury his Great Dane dog. I swear that dog was as big as a calf and the dirt was almost like concrete but we got it done. No way was he going to dig that hole with a pick before the dog started to smell.
Every neighbor around me has gotten a favor or two or three from my equipment but never asked to borrow anything. I think that they are all professional enough(we are in a farming community) to know that borrowing a tractor is just not done but a good neighbor will help out when asked. What with me being retired, just an opportunity to do some work is enough. Many times, I have seen work needing to be done and just volunteered to come over and do it whether it is tractor work or just handy man needs. Last week I built a door for a pump house for my neighbor. He had a guy that was suppose to do that, but had not done it since last summer, so I did the work from some scrap lumber and siding that I had, even put some insulation on the back side. I will eventually mount if also when he (actually his wife does most of the work because he has COPD) gets ready to supervise.

Absolutely! Done this many times. It is the best way to have friends.

Logical... well said!