Partnership bulldozer. Good or bad idea????

[sixdogs]

Even brothers can't share things. Look how well the toy thing worked when you were kids.
I once shared a trailer with a guy and wound up giving my half away just to save the friendship. Guess what? we're no longer friends.

For me, I won't even let anyone borrow my equipment. Period. I'll do the work for free but I'm the operator. Saves all the angst.

 

[KubotaToy]

It is rare this kind sharing thing works in the end. I agree with sixdogs, I help people who need it but I am the one who operates my equipment.

I lost long time neighbor over "borrowing" her late husbands dozer. She asked if I would get it started and move it from behind her house. I agreed and told her I would like to use it for a few hours to move some stumps. It had sat for several years with no protection and the pistons were stuck with water in the cylinders and hoses busted, my shop guys worked on it for a week but told me I was be better off buying a new dozer ($ wise) than trying to get this one running. When I told her it was a lost cause, she accused of tearing it up while using it. Bottom line it is hard to anticipate others actions when things happen and they feel used or cheated.

 

[Soundguy]

Even brothers can't share things. Look how well the toy thing worked when you were kids.
I once shared a trailer with a guy and wound up giving my half away just to save the friendship. Guess what? we're no longer friends.

For me, I won't even let anyone borrow my equipment. Period. I'll do the work for free but I'm the operator. Saves all the angst.

yup.

I'll show up with my tractor and gloves and stay till the work is done.. but the machines and toys come and go with me.

if it breaks.. i broke it.. no problem....

 

[k0ua]

Even brothers can't share things. Look how well the toy thing worked when you were kids.
I once shared a trailer with a guy and wound up giving my half away just to save the friendship. Guess what? we're no longer friends.

For me, I won't even let anyone borrow my equipment. Period. I'll do the work for free but I'm the operator. Saves all the angst.

YEP

It is rare this kind sharing thing works in the end. I agree with sixdogs, I help people who need it but I am the one who operates my equipment.

I lost long time neighbor over "borrowing" her late husbands dozer. She asked if I would get it started and move it from behind her house. I agreed and told her I would like to use it for a few hours to move some stumps. It had sat for several years with no protection and the pistons were stuck with water in the cylinders and hoses busted, my shop guys worked on it for a week but told me I was be better off buying a new dozer ($ wise) than trying to get this one running. When I told her it was a lost cause, she accused of tearing it up while using it. Bottom line it is hard to anticipate others actions when things happen and they feel used or cheated.

What he said^

yup.

I'll show up with my tractor and gloves and stay till the work is done.. but the machines and toys come and go with me.

if it breaks.. i broke it.. no problem....

Same here^

The one time We "all went together to buy this expensive tool" It didn't work out well.

James K0UA

 

[2458n]

My experience reflects the above. If I can't justify owning it I rent. Simple as that.

 

[tessiers]

Even brothers can't share things. Look how well the toy thing worked when you were kids.
I once shared a trailer with a guy and wound up giving my half away just to save the friendship. Guess what? we're no longer friends.

For me, I won't even let anyone borrow my equipment. Period. I'll do the work for free but I'm the operator. Saves all the angst.

It works for me and my brothers, I buy the equipment, maintain, repair it, they come get it when they want, along with my 1 ton, trailer and fuel tank and call me when they are done with it or it is broken, I go get it repair it, fill the fuel and bring it back to them if they were not done. Has been a great system for the most part, just glad I only have 3 brothers.

If you can be content with that situation go for it. As a side note I like the my crawler, but as said they are expensive and wear out, unlike tractors the simple act of operating a crawler no matter how carefully wears them out, plan on repairs if you use it. Tractors seam like they can go for decades with little or no maintenance, and still do what is asked of them.

 

[sixdogs]

It works for me and my brothers, I buy the equipment, maintain, repair it, they come get it when they want, along with my 1 ton, trailer and fuel tank and call me when they are done with it or it is broken, I go get it repair it, fill the fuel and bring it back to them if they were not done. Has been a great system for the most part, just glad I only have 3 brothers.

Can you adopt me?
I used to live in central ME.

 

[ultrarunner]

In my family it would be a plus if we owned it together because they would at least have contributed something towards it.

Right now I got several pieces of equipment at my brothers home and you are right... any problems and I get the call.

The log splitter is the only thing I own with neighbors... 3 of us all together and it's been 10 years and it has worked out very well... maybe two days a year for each of us...

 

[Gary Fowler]

It works for me and my brothers, I buy the equipment, maintain, repair it, they come get it when they want, along with my 1 ton, trailer and fuel tank and call me when they are done with it or it is broken, I go get it repair it, fill the fuel and bring it back to them if they were not done. Has been a great system for the most part, just glad I only have 3 brothers.

If you can be content with that situation go for it. As a side note I like the my crawler, but as said they are expensive and wear out, unlike tractors the simple act of operating a crawler no matter how carefully wears them out, plan on repairs if you use it. Tractors seam like they can go for decades with little or no maintenance, and still do what is asked of them.

That is the only way a partnership will work. If you are willing to foot the entire bill of ownership and repair and let your partner use it for free, then go for it. As for myself, I don't borrow anything. If I need it, I will buy it (or rent) and if a friend or neighbor needs it, I will go do the work they want done for free but I wont loan my stuff.

 

[R W]

If you can afford it buy it yourself.
Saw many people go halves in things over the years , one person usually came off 2nd best. As bulldozers are a high maintenance machine they would in my opinion
be one of the worst machines made to go shares in.