How about going halves on attachments.

[mattman]

How has going in halves on various attachments that want get used much by one person but split the use between two or three people to make the cost worth it. What problems have people ran into as far as one of the people tearing up something then not fixing it back like it was before they did what ever damage. You know how some people are about using something. Some take care of their stuff while others abuse it. "It aint mine" is an old saying around here. If the people go in equal partners on the attachments, would they feel that it was their equipment and take care of it the way it should be cared for. Or say well the other partners will fix if I tear it up. What's yalls opinions??

 

[john_bud]

I'm up for it. You buy it, I'll use it. Heck, I'll even let you pay to repair it after I break it!

(That's the usual problem)

jb

 

[kthompson]

My opinion, if they don't respect your stuff when they borrow it, they will treat co-owned the same. If you would not be willing to borrow from or loan to, don't buy together. Years ago there was a fair amount of that here. Think rental centers has taken some of that away. If you do buy together, you really ought to put it in writing as to the rules of the game. Why so all will be sure they know what is being agreed on.

 

[kennyd]

Me and my neighbor bought a used 3PH chipper/shredder together-$600 a piece. It has worked out well, but we both take care of our stuff and can take responsibility for our actions.

 

[Wildbill34]

Kenny,

I am glad you agree.......send that subsoiler of yours to me for a couple of days. I will clean it up and send it back when I am done laying the 500 feet of cable line.

 

[DanD78]

I have one neighbor/friend that we own equipment together. We have know each other for 30 years and trust each other with any tool or machine. I have other friends that I wouldn't do the same with on a dare. You don't want to get in to this kind of agreement with just any one.

Dan

 

[NuBota]

Yea, has to be done based on the personality of the potential "partner". Written agreement doesn't help much if they break it, plan to fix it, but take forever to do so - esp. something expensive - you still can't use it.

I had a neighbor in my old place I trusted completely. I never took good care of my own stuff (back then). Loaned him chainsaw, all dirty, dull, etc and he brought it back shiny and sharp - I felt terrible for the way I loaned it!

Tht guilt is what got me to start taking better care of my own stuff

 

[mfreund]

Trust between partners and proximity. If you spend 2 hrs going to get equipment it really cuts into seat time.

 

[Squeak n Itch]

Have done this with a good friend. The logsplitter has gone through several parts replacements and the "breakage" has been split pretty much 50/50. Our basic rule is when you are finished with your project, keep the splitter until the other guy calls and needs it. This has worked out great so far and the logsplitter has gotten twice the use it would had I bought it alone. It was bought (barely) used and we each paid $250!! My back has thanked me ever since.

 

[CDsdad]

I wouldn't do it.

I don't have any friends, except my father. My neighbor is the next closest thing, I guess. He's OK, but if I were a drinker I wouldn't go halves on a 6 pack with him.

I guess if it's your lifelong friend or something, maybe, as long as everybody understands use and repairs up front. But for me, no way.

 

[Scotty370]

I like owning my own stuff! That said, I've no problem lending it out to 'trusted' friends. A person that I'd 'partner' with would not have this 'trust' quality, if I thought I'd have to have a written agreement signed! I'm sure there's good reason to do that, if it were something BIG, like a summer cottage on a lake, because then other family members are involved. But for tools/implements, you'd know in you gut, if 'he's' the right partner. I think the circle of such friends is a small one! The kind of guy that, if he wants to borrow your fishing boat, you throw him the keys to your car for him to tow it with!!!~Scotty

 

[whistlepig]

How has going in halves on various attachments that want get used much by one person but split the use between two or three people to make the cost worth it. What problems have people ran into as far as one of the people tearing up something then not fixing it back like it was before they did what ever damage. You know how some people are about using something. Some take care of their stuff while others abuse it. "It aint mine" is an old saying around here. If the people go in equal partners on the attachments, would they feel that it was their equipment and take care of it the way it should be cared for. Or say well the other partners will fix if I tear it up. What's yalls opinions??

I have one friend that I loan, borrow, and share equipment with. He takes very good care of the equipment and brings it right back when he is done with it. He's one in a million. Most people I have ever loaned to or shared equipment with have mistreated the equipment and won't bring it back. For these type of friends I haul my stuff over and do the work for them. Takes less time than repairing the damage they do or going back to get it.

 

[HCJ]

My buddy and I bought a Kubota M 6800 tractor, numerous implements and probably have $35,000 invested as 50/50 partners. No contract, nothing in writing, just our agreement. Yeah, it's probably stupid, but we've had this deal for 5 years and it's going great. I probably take better care of it, but don't really resent that, for I enjoy it. Money has never been an issue. It allows me to have way more tractor than I would feel good about buying, and it helps when buying a new implement, I can sell it to my wife that I'm paying only half. It helps that we also own the land together (300 acre hunting property) so the tractor is only used there for both of our benefit. (land ownership certainly was done using attorneys and proper agreements) If you trust your partner and are willing to realize that either of could damage the implement when used, and just accept that, and don't get too picky about the little stuff, it could work great. It has worked very well for me.

 

[whistlepig]

My buddy and I bought a Kubota M 6800 tractor, numerous implements and probably have $35,000 invested as 50/50 partners. No contract, nothing in writing, just our agreement. Yeah, it's probably stupid, but we've had this deal for 5 years and it's going great. I probably take better care of it, but don't really resent that, for I enjoy it. Money has never been an issue. It allows me to have way more tractor than I would feel good about buying, and it helps when buying a new implement, I can sell it to my wife that I'm paying only half. It helps that we also own the land together (300 acre hunting property) so the tractor is only used there for both of our benefit. (land ownership certainly was done using attorneys and proper agreements) If you trust your partner and are willing to realize that either of could damage the implement when used, and just accept that, and don't get too picky about the little stuff, it could work great. It has worked very well for me.

This is the situation I would love to be in with those that want to borrow. Matters not to me. It's not doing any of us any good if it is just sitting in my barn not being used. I gave this a free reign at one time. I got spanked pretty hard. My equipment was being destroyed in the sake of friendship. It's a very bad thing to go through and best avoided with friends unless you have some that care.

 

[patrick_g]

Sharing implements:

It can and has worked well, in a small minority of cases.

I would not consider more than 3 partners as at 3 or more I would bet the attitude toward the machine would be much like a rental, callous disregard, on the part of at least one of the group.

There are easier ways to loose friends or cause conflict that are not so expensive.

Pat

 

[SuperDuty335]

I go in halves with my father-in-law occasionally. We bought a spike aerator last. He has a Kubota FEL with bushhog, finish mower, tiller, plow, disc, middle buster and a box blade. Only the aerator is half mine.

 

[kthompson]

If you are going to invest as much money in equipment as some here have with a partner, you really need it in writing as to ownership. Nothing to do with trust of that person. Anything can happen and if nothing else death and probate can tie up stuff. You may also fine an issue with insurance with joint ownership, just ask.