Lending out equipment to neighbors

[redalrt]

What do you guys think about loaning out implements?

I'm a new tractor owner and just moved to a new neighborhood on a 2.54 ac. lot. I found a 4' brush mower on e-Bay but had to pay the owner to deliver it to me.

I've been getting acquainted with my new neighbors, one of which also owns a tractor. He asked me to borrow my bushhog some time. Trying to be neighborly, I said "sure."

Later on, he asked me again and explained that he would be using the mower to cut grass on somebody else's lot for pay. He explained that it would be on a recurring basis until he could get one of his own. I told him OK. He then responded that he would be coming to get it the next day.

I then thought about it and I did not have a good feeling for the following reasons:

1. I barely know the new neighbor
2. I don't now where the mower is going
3. I don't know the person whose grass is being cut
4. I don't know the ground on which the mower will be used
5. I'm not being compensated for my equipment being used
for hire

So, I changed my mind and decided against it. When my neighbor came home from work on the pick up day, I went over and explained that I had thought about it and did not think loaning him the bushhog was something I couldn't do.

Plan B was to loan it to him once, but to make it clear that I would not do it again. I ultimately decided that to loan it at all could start a bad precedent.

My wife thinks I was wrong for not going with Plan B. She says I didn't keep my word. I told him he could use it and then chose not to allow it.

I'm thinking that its my gear, so I reserve the right to make decisions about its use.

Bottom line is my conscience is clear regarding my decision, understanding that I might need a favor from this same neighbor some day. But I wouldn't ask of him what he asked of me.

What're your takes on this?

 

[redalrt]

I went over and explained that I had thought about it and did not think loaning him the bushhog was something I COULD do.

 

[Soundguy]

In general.. I don't loan my tractor or implements. I have in the past, loaned an implement or two to VERY good friends that I knew would immediatly fix or replace it if damaged.
.. but have yet to ever loan my tractor out. I will on occasion loan myself and my tractor out for small work.

I know some people feel differently about this. I had a neighbor with a broken down tractor that needed his pasture mowed monthly.. He had a mower.. but no tractor. We worked it out that I used his mower to mow his field, then I could use it to mow my field. Ok setup.. but I eventually tired of mowing for him /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.. and I got my own mower... he was heartbroken.. especially since he did not take care of his tractor.

I made it a point to go over and resurect his tractor enough to get it to spin the mower to get me out of that situation.

I think you made a good call.. #1.. he is getting paid.. you aren't.. #2.. you know how lawyers are.. if he is doing comercial work with no insurance.. and kills someone.. they will sue him... and maybee you.. cause it is your mower... i've seen it happen in somewhat related circumstances ( a wreck outside our office involving a semi truck and car.. young new driver in car was killed when she pulled out in front of semi... father of girl sued semi truck company, driver, owner of cargo trailer, owner of the cargo IN the trailer, the county who had recently put a stop lamp up at the intersection, the contractor who installed the stop lamp, and our company, because the crash occoured at the intersection where our property was located.. and the owner of our company personally.. True story! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

Soundguy

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I think you clearly did the right thing. You could be held liable if he misued your equipement on someone else's land!

I have 2 neighbors who I trade equipment with. All 3 of us have known each other for several years before we started this. Both of them are far more mechanically inclined than I am so I trust them with my stuff, I still can't figure out why they trust me with their stuff, but we all agree that if something is borrowed, it goes back in the same condition, and the person who borrowed it is liable for maintainence and repairs. We have had no problems with this arrangement at all and it has worked for about 5 years.

We have other neighbors who ask to borrow and we turn them down.

 

[kensfarm]

"What do you guys think about loaning out implements?"

No!

"He explained that it would be on a recurring basis until he could get one of his own."

You should have said.. can I borrow your wife.. it would be on a recurring basis.. you know.. until I can get one on my own. (If he would have said yes.. I would just have turned around and started running home!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You should have said.. can I borrow your wife.. it would be on a recurring basis.. you know.. until I can get one on my own. (If he would have said yes.. I would just have turned around and started running home!) )</font>

Hmmm depending on what the lady looked like.. i might have ran and got the mower for him! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If you see me typing funny tomorrow.. you'll know my wife saw this message /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Soundguy

 

[beenthere]

IMO, you did what you had to do, and he shouldn't put you in that position in the first place.
However, I had a good neighbor who I loaned things too. Seems everytime I did, his wife insisted that he buy his own. Now, he and I may have had an unconscious thing going on there. He loaned me things, and I never had my wife insist that I buy one. So it didn't work real well for me.

Once was asked to go together on the purchase of a wood splitter. Two guys wanted three of us to join in a $850 purchase, all chipping in $250, leaving some money in a kitty for maintenance items, etc. I was very skeptical that this would work.
We drew up a set of "by-laws" to which we agreed to:
* After each use, top off gas and fluids
* Reserve to use only ½ day at a time, and could use until reserved by another.
* User picks up from previous user who has it stored
* Stored under cover
* Log book kept on hours used
* Use to only split an 'owners' wood, could not loan it out.
* Pay kitty $5/hour if used for non-owners wood, with an owner present to operate splitter
* Tow only when dry, or cover with plastic to keep salt off

This agreement has worked extremely well for 21 years now. The 'owners' are down to three, and the arrangement has been excellent. The one rule that reserved for ½ day never presented a problem. Originally we thought that more than one would decide 'today' is the day to split wood, and we figured a ½ day was enough time allowed.
One 'owner' thought he wanted out and was going to 'sell' his share for $50 to another person, who we didn't know. We 'voted' and paid him $50 and said we were buying his share, 'good-bye'. Another owner figured after 15 years he wasn't out any money and dropped out without asking to be bought out. So for $250, we have enjoyed the use of a splitter that probably has split an average of 20-25 cords of wood over the 21 years. Not bad, and the 8HP B&S just keeps on tickin (another policy we abide by, and that is the engine is not run at full rpm, as there is enough power at a lower rpm).

Sorry to be so long winded.

 

[Junkman]

If he can't afford to buy a mower, can he afford to fix yours if it breaks? My guess is that even if he can, he won't. I would never think of asking a almost stranger to borrow anything more than a screwdriver if I were stuck in front of his home. It is nice to be generous, but in the end, many times it will not turn out the way you expect. I loaned a expensive tool to someone that I only know casually, and now when I ask for its return, he denies ever borrowing it. How do you deal with people like that? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I loaned my Snap-On 1/2" impact gun to a neighbor, and it took almost 2 years before I got it back. He kept saying that he couldn't find it. I asked his friend who was working in the garage if he knew where it was, and he pulled it out of the bench drawer in less than 5 seconds. I told him to leave a note that I "borrowed" it back and that it will be residing in my tool box forever after. If you lend something, there is a good chance that it won't come back in a timely manner, and there is a better chance that it will come back damaged. I no longer loan my tools, big, small, or anything inbetween.... As for the wife..... anyone wanting to borrow her, better be prepared to keep her, because once she is gone, she isn't coming back..... under no conditions!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Have loaned some implements in the past. Most of them have come back broken or damaged so I think it's a losing proposition for the owner.

Junk can I borrow your socket set?

 

[Taylortractornut]

I have very few folks i loan tools or equipment to. Ive been called several things and dont really care. I had a lady call and ask yesterday morning if they could borrow my One or our backhoes to do some landscaping. I told her Id go do it She said her and her husband really wanted to do it themselves and thought that since we had 2 backhoes and and excavator Id lend them one. They got all P(*ssy with me about it. I told them i made a living with them and they they were expensive and took skill to operate. She replied that it was a tractor and any idiot could run one. I gave them a rental number and upon comming home they had a Terramite stuck out front and also was missing some brick off the side of the house. They asked me today is I could come by and fix their mistakes and I was given an apology. What really broke me was I had a front section out of an 8 foot AC drag type pulverizing disk. I didnt use it much and had a few chipped blades but was easily pulled by a small tractor. I loaned it to a friend and hauled it out there and they unloaded it with a boom. It was at his friends house in their horse field. That was 4 years ago and its still there no offer to help load it. Im gettin it back next weekend though. One thing about loaning equipment is most folks dont know if its making a strange noise or anything that might hurt it like wre wrapped around the shafts and such. One thing about it Ive had stuff at friends houses and heard them brag about abusing so and so's equipment, that means as soon as you leave yours is gonna die.