Do you loan your tractor

[Uncle Doug]

I have always tried to be a good neighbor or friend. I have loaned my tractor out to neighbors, Son in law, sons and a few other friends. It seems that almost every time I have it comes back with another dent, some thing broken or missing. While I am not a very picky owner I do try and keep my equipment in good running shape. Over the past 5 years I have had this tractor (since new) it has returned with broken head lights, broken tail light, broken trailer lights, missing turn buckle, covered in mud and a few more dents.

I loaned it out yesterday with the PTO tiller and it returned with wire and other garbage wound up in the tiller tines. This friend always fills the tractor back up with fuel so I guess he did not notice the tiller.

While I still want to be the good neighbor it seems that when it comes to my tractor I will need to offer to do the work for them other than loan the tractor out.

 

[3RRL]

That's what I do, do the tractor work myself as a favor to good neighbors.
For some reason it's OK for me to screw it up instead of them. Like it's my right and not theirs or something...

 

[kthompson]

If you want a polite way to say no, you may find your insurance company will not cover it to be rented or loaned. So you will be glad to do it for them.

 

[George2615]

I used to but I no longer loan out my tractor, truck, trailer, attachments, or any other equipment. I have done so in the past and like Uncle Doug said, it always came back with some kind of damage.
I stopped loaning because whoever I loaned things to was not familiar with what was loaned to them. In previous cases of loaning out things such as a trailer, the person using it had never backed up a trailer as long as mine and caused damage. Same goes for the tractor, they had never operated one like mine. Anytime you buy something yourself there is always a learning period to get used to it. If you are not familiar with how something operates that's when damage occurs.
If someone asks to use something I will usually schedule a time with them and go do the job myself as a favor. I would rather have someone owe me than to owe them and I have plenty owed to me.
I try not to, but I have borrowed equipment / attachments that I don't own and only needed for a one time use. When I'm done it always goes back cleaner, greased, and usually in better shape than it was when I got it.

 

[RollingsFarms]

i only loan mine out to a farmer friend of mine to run a hay rake. his only tractors are a 4440, 6410, and a NH T115, so he doesnt have a smaller tractor to use. he's debating on buying one just like mine in the future though. i know how he treats his equipment and in return for letting him borrow my 5203, he gives me the use of his tractors if i have some loader work to do or whatever. i've never had a problem with this arrangement and we both make sure each others tractors are filled up, greased and serviced(if need be) prior to returning them to each other. other then that, i don't lend out my equipment to other people.

 

[Nissan197]

I have never loaned my tractor out. I loaned my trailer out once and it came back with the fenders all scratched up. Probably would only loan stuff to my brother and that is it.

 

[mbohuntr]

The last thing I loaned out got 6' of scratches and divots down the side... absolutely not.... I will operate myself for free though (to friends)

 

[tomd999]

Hiya,

I loan the small Deere out all the time, to my wife. It comes back dirty, scratched and with an extra dent or 2 depending what she drives into, over, through or drops out of the bucket onto the hood. What can I say, she's a recovering city girl....

Tom

 

[Thomas]

Has to be darn good friend etc. before I loan out tractor.

Good friend etc. would make the breakage...cleaning etc. right before returning tractor.

Maybe it's time for some tough love.

 

[Usta]

I am very careful who borrows/uses my stuff.
Loaned my fiberglass handle splitting maul and got back ONLY a sorry, the handle broke. There are exceptions though. I loaned out my 27 ton wood splitter to a guy for about a week and it came back full of fuel, washed and WAXED (who waxes wood splitters) and with a $50 resturant gift card. Of course this guy probably carries enough cash on him to buy 3 wood splitters.
The tractor will never see an operator other than the wife and I.

 

[studor]

I don't loan my tractor, chainsaw or wife out --- I know how they will come back

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I will loan equipment, tractors, cars etc to sons - no one else. Don't loan wife to anyone.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I don't loan my tractor, chainsaw or wife out --- I know how they will come back

the tractor and chainsaw will come back. the wife might not. that could be a good or bad thing, all depends.

 

[studor]

Not always sure on the chainsaw or tractor coming back either

 

[Pirate]

Neighbor wanted to borrow mine. I said no and told him if it was going to get wrecked, I was the one who would do it. I redid his driveway for him. He offered $50, I declined. I tend to get a bit ticked when people want to borrow power equipment that can be rented. I grumble to myself that I'm not the **** rental agency. I won't hesitate to help out with manual labor when needed but don't ask to use my pressure washer when you can go rent one and wear out theirs.

 

[LBrown59]

If you want a polite way to say no, you may find your insurance company will not cover it to be rented or loaned.* So you will be glad to do it for them.

Loan the tractor or do it for them the insurance won't cover it.
Once the tractor leaves the insurance leaves too.

 

[LBrown59]

I have always tried to be a good neighbor or friend. I have loaned my tractor out to neighbors, Son in law, sons and a few other friends. It seems that almost every time I have it comes back with another dent, some thing broken or missing. While I am not a very picky owner I do try and keep my equipment in good running shape. Over the past 5 years I have had this tractor (since new) it has returned with broken head lights, broken tail light, broken trailer lights, missing turn buckle, covered in mud and a few more dents.

I loaned it out yesterday with the PTO tiller and it returned with wire and other garbage wound up in the tiller tines. This friend always fills the tractor back up with fuel so I guess he did not notice the tiller.

While I still want to be the good neighbor it seems that when it comes to my tractor I will need to offer to do the work for them other than loan the tractor out.

After about the second time that would have been the last loan.

 

[JMynes]

You want to borrow WHAT?

 

[RadarTech]

I'm with 3RR...
you need to borrow it?
hey man, let me do it for ya.
I don't mind and you can help me with something later...

done this and usually get the help on things I don't have the equipment or skills for myself..

right now I have a neighbor repairing my mangled box blade.
since I don't have a welder, and it has been 10 years since I even touched one...

make it a swap and it will be a better deal.....

besides, if you break it you'll feel better since you know the limits of the gear!


Later,
J

 

[MossRoad]

Yes. I loan my tractor out 'with operator'