buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
Family can be a challange, when they ask "can i borrow your tractor" you might not want to ask "sure, if i can borrow your wife".....
Family Tradition
- Thread starter RollTideRam
- Start date
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otlski
Gold Member
Dealing with family can be tricky. Maybe you can say...
I appreciate your offer to go in with me on the new tractor but I have to decline. I want to have full say over the tractor because a I no longer wish to loan it out for insurance and liability reasons.
I appreciate your offer to go in with me on the new tractor but I have to decline. I want to have full say over the tractor because a I no longer wish to loan it out for insurance and liability reasons.
goeduck
Super Member
4570Man
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2015
- Messages
- 18,519
- Location
- Crossville, TN
- Tractor
- Kubota M59, Kubota L3800, Grasshopper 428D, Topkick dump truck, 3500 dump truck, 10 ton trailer, more lighter trailers.
I had a friend ask to borrow a trailer on a Wednesday. I said sure but I need it back in time to use Friday morning. Despite reminding him twice still no trailer Friday morning. Then once he finally did bring it back my 2 ratchet straps weren’t on it. I was pretty pissed but only made one rude comments about it. He was a crybaby about it and never apologized and pretty much the same thing happened. To be fair I’ve borrowed more stuff from him than he has me but I never treated him that way.
chim
Elite Member
I'm blessed. My next door neighbor is my one brother-in-law and we have a great relationship. He treats everything with care regardless of who owns it. He insisted on having me park the L4240 in his barn till I made provisions at our place. That was in December and I've just begun work on the shed here. He came yesterday and worked with me to get the 4x6 PT lumber base squared and level.
I mentioned getting the tractor out of his way several times since December, and he always tells me "no hurry". He told me that I shouldn't even think about buying forks or anything else he has that will fit my tractor. When his L4740 was out for repairs a couple weeks ago he used my tractor to mow some meadows and it wasn't easy to convince him that he shouldn't top off the fuel.
I mentioned getting the tractor out of his way several times since December, and he always tells me "no hurry". He told me that I shouldn't even think about buying forks or anything else he has that will fit my tractor. When his L4740 was out for repairs a couple weeks ago he used my tractor to mow some meadows and it wasn't easy to convince him that he shouldn't top off the fuel.
wwdiii
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2018
- Messages
- 72
- Tractor
- Mahindra 3550
A fellow can loan out a lot of things, but a tractor is not one of them. When you get your new tractor, let the relatives know this one is not for loaning. Tell them right away, you paid way to much money to loan it and stick to you guns.
When I bought my new tractor the first thing the salesman told me, don't loan a tractor. I already knew that, along with bass boats, pickup trucks for people that want to move and ATV's for starters.
I had no more than made it home with my new tractor, getting out of the truck and neighbor came up and said he that's a nice tractor, I need to borrow your tractor, need to use it on deck and dock I've contracted to build for a guy on the lake. I said, now let me get this straight. I just bought this tractor, I've never used it, but I'm supposed to loan it to you to take to a job site.
I was nice about it, but I made it clear I didn't drop 40k on a tractor to loan out so you can make a living. I looked at him and said, there is a reason the dealer told me not to loan a tractor. I said, go rent one. He got the message I was serious.
When I bought my new tractor the first thing the salesman told me, don't loan a tractor. I already knew that, along with bass boats, pickup trucks for people that want to move and ATV's for starters.
I had no more than made it home with my new tractor, getting out of the truck and neighbor came up and said he that's a nice tractor, I need to borrow your tractor, need to use it on deck and dock I've contracted to build for a guy on the lake. I said, now let me get this straight. I just bought this tractor, I've never used it, but I'm supposed to loan it to you to take to a job site.
I was nice about it, but I made it clear I didn't drop 40k on a tractor to loan out so you can make a living. I looked at him and said, there is a reason the dealer told me not to loan a tractor. I said, go rent one. He got the message I was serious.
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
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- May 27, 2006
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- 32,246
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
I'm around family and friends all the time. Loaned my roto tiller yesterday. No hesitation. Some borrowers are better than others. Nature of the beast.
I'm afraid the OP has already established the standard. It's solely on him to establish new rules. The key is the only good suggestion so far.
I'm afraid the OP has already established the standard. It's solely on him to establish new rules. The key is the only good suggestion so far.
And there are different types of borrowers. I've got a good friend that is constantly borrowing stuff from me. Takes great care of it, if something breaks, he fixes it. If it gets ditty, he cleans it.
The only problem I have with him is that he never brings anything back, I usually have to go get it. At least he doesn't live far away
The only problem I have with him is that he never brings anything back, I usually have to go get it. At least he doesn't live far away
dodge man
Super Star Member
Most of the people I loan stuff to I consider the relationship more important than the cost of the tool, but no one has asked me to borrow my tractor yet. I lent out a chain saw and I had broken the handle before and tried to crazy glue it back on. They of course broke it again and were about sick over it, even price out a new part. The part was about as much as a new chain saw and when they returned it I said no big deal, it was already broken.
I agree, hide the keys to the new tractor and explain it to them. Being family is taking the good with the bad.
I agree, hide the keys to the new tractor and explain it to them. Being family is taking the good with the bad.
goeduck
Super Member
Take a front tire off every time you finish with it and put it somewhere they cannot get to it. That might not be applicable here but I did hear of someone doing that on a smallish machine.
