Sharing with Neighbor

[tony123]

Toolsorbust, did he consult you before painting? that's an awfully nice thing to do, but in my case, I really don't want a new paint job. I like the "beat up" look.

 

[putt_putt_green]

I'm casting my vote to sharing implements with people you trust. I have no problems sharing, but I've had the same neighbors for 10 years, but also consider them good friends. I spent $50 fixing the neighbors wore out cement mixer that I borrowed, but thats not a problem.

 

[toolsorbust]

Yes he asked first. my thoughts are its a piece of equipment its going to get scratched up and besides anything is better than the early rust look.

 

[gemini5362]

I also share things with people I trust. I do live by the rule that I dont share anything that It would hurt me a lot to lose. I wont loan out my tractor if something happened to that it would be too much money for most people to just shell out to replace. I would not worry much about loaning out my brushhog, plow, boxblade, etc They are not something you are going to hurt easily and if they do they are easily replaceable. One of my friends has a 18 foot car hauler trailer ( wider than most utility trailers) a lot of us borrow it from him when we need to get something wider than we can handle. One guy borrowed it and bent the hitch. He bought a new hitch for the trailer but the guy that borrowed it did not have any way to put the new hitch on. He gave the trailer and the new hitch back to the owner. The owner straightened up the old one until he had time to put the new one on. I had to borrow the trailer shortly after that and I talked to some of the other people that had borrowed it and we went together and bought him a new bulldog hitch for it. When I returned it I told him I had trouble getting it to unhook from my ball but I fixed it. He went to see what I had done and you should have seen his eyes light up when he saw the new bulldog hitch. Sometimes when you make that leap of faith and let people borrow your stuff you get a lot more out of it than just the monetary value of the item.

 

[Rara Avis]

Synopsis:
One camp -Share and share alike
One camp -Over my dead body
One camp -some variation of the above two camps...

 

[KennethBrown]

For awhile there, it seemed that everybody I knew wanted to borrow something. I have what I have because I want it and need it. I don't want to have to go find it, fix it, or be suprised by what's happened to it.

When asked if they could borrow something, I say sure, just give me the cash for what it would cost to replace, and I'll return it to you when you bring it back just like it was. It seems like a fair offer. All they have to do is return it just like they say they will, in the condition they borrow it it.

So far, not one person has agreed to this.

Eddie

If ya ever get the dozer out of the shop I'll write ya a check or drop off the credit card. I'll know that its all good because you spend more money on that thing than I make in a year. Your about 2 hour drive from me so it won't take ya long to get here either, just go down 155 to Palestine and then 79/84 to Buffalo, I'm about 15 miles from there. I'll be sure and return it right before it breaks again.





I say buy what the man needs. My Dad and me trade out all the time. He has a 2610 Yanmar that I need sometime to get into tight spots. He uses my 5500 Mahindra when he needs some power. Granted this is my Dad.
I also have a freind who can use anything I have. We don't bother to ask each other anymore, just go get it. He hasn't asked to use my tractor but he could if he did. He's off working a pipeline job right now so my folks are abaysitting his horses and I've got his extra truck. Its a farm truck beater so theres plenty wrong with it and I've fixed plenty of it. I drive it almost everyday just like he asked me to. Its good for the truck and good for me, I love his flatbed vs my regular. As others have said its about trust.

 

[AlanB]

For me it depends entirely on the person, I tend to start small, and work from there. Sometimes I have been burned, and sometimes it works out ok.

I have borrowed bikes often and returned them in better shape then when I got them. One time I borrowed a 4 wheeler, that had been lent to someone before me, the owner, a close freind, had not seen it in quite a while, I put swingarm bushings, new chain and sprockets, new rear axle bearings etc in that thing, It started smoking like a mohican, he took it apart and I don't think I will forget the look on his face when he looked at me after pulling the airbox boot off and it was full of mud (past the airfilter) He was unhappy with me, and we had never had it in the mud, still wish I had serviced that part of the thing, but I wander.

Anyway, some folks, will destroy your stuff, and return it and just act like nothing happened. Others will treat it better then you will.

Spent the day working on my buddies bobcat, at my house (where the bobcat lives) For us, it works out great, I use his bobcat regularly, he uses the tractor when needed. Glad I don't have to buy everything. And yes, if the bobcat blows while I am driving, I would rebuild it, and if it did while he was driving, We would rebuild it.

Hope it works for you. I think it can. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet a bit, and do a little extra on the equipment, and it will come back to you many times over.

 

[Tororider]

I agree that it depends totally on the person, but here is why I wouldn't share. You said that you could be neighbors for 20 years, all it would take is him not noticing a ding he put in the thing before you borrowed it and thinking when you returned it that you banged up his implement. Then you would have a neighbor who, maybe he doesn't say it, but is ticked off with you, and some people can hold a really quiet grudge.

Now if you needed to borrow something that you were only going to need to use once every couple years I would offer to rent it. When he says to just borrow it, offer again to rent it. When he insists you just borrow it, borrow it and treat it well. Then when you are done, get him a gift card for someplace he frequents food or stuff, or take him and the mrs. out to dinner.

Thats what I would do.

With regards to lending, I would offer to do the work myself when I can get to it, then if something breaks it is my fault, just ask for a case of your favorite beer or to get taken along to the ball game next time they head down.

Again, it all depends on the person, like everyone has said, there are certain people I give the keys to my stuff without thinking twice, and they do the same...I think.

 

[CDsdad]

I'm in the "I'll come help you myself" group on this.

I don't have neighbors with anything worth borrowing and the one time something was mentioned, I bushhogged the neighbor's field across the road. It was just knee to waist high grass and I knew what was there, so no harm. I think he knew he wasn't going to get my tractor himself, so he was appreciative.

He can't do too much. He works a lot and drinks like a screen door in a submarine when he's home. I'd help him before some of my relatives, though.

 

[Double Orange]

drinks like a screen door in a submarine .

LOL
Frank