Tractor Snowblower usage Tradeoff

[stu1951]

Hi everyone! I let my neighboor use my BX2350 with frontmount snowblower so he can do his laneway. It takes about 1/2 hour each blow. But this winter with so much snow he must of used it over 40 times. We do a trade off and if I need some help in the summer he helps out.
I want to be fair and thought for every snow blow I get a credit for 1 hour of physical labor. PS I look after the fuel
Do you think this a fair exchange for both parties?

 

[BeezFun]

It depends what skill level he is trading. To rent that piece of equipment for an hour would probably cost $50-100 around here. If he's just raking leaves for an hour it's probably not quite fair. If he's a pretty skilled carpenter and can do some quality tasks for you, it's probably not too bad.

 

[JJT]

This sounds like something that should have been worked out in advance. I will not loan out my tractor, but I will help out the neighbors. Normally it's a one sided deal and that's fine with me.

1 hour of labor for a half hour of tractor time is more than fair.

 

[beenthere]

Hi everyone! I let my neighboor use my BX2350 with frontmount snowblower so he can do his laneway. It takes about 1/2 hour each blow. But this winter with so much snow he must of used it over 40 times. We do a trade off and if I need some help in the summer he helps out.
I want to be fair and thought for every snow blow I get a credit for 1 hour of physical labor. PS I look after the fuel
Do you think this a fair exchange for both parties?

Not a good thing to have started.
I suggest either stop the practice now, or forget about trying to make some kind of trade-off deal. Obvious that the extra usage is bothering you now, or you wouldn't be worried about your "share".

If you continue, trust the neighbor that he will make it right for you when summer comes. But if you try to keep score, your neighbor friendship will suffer.

Bottom line, I would never have loaned my tractor like you've done in the first place. I go with it if it happens.

 

[freddyr]

Yep that should have bin talked about earlier. i just help my neighbors and dont charge anything.:thumbsup: That way if i hit something or dont show up its not my fault!

 

[jpm1]

It's a nice idea to help out friends and neighbors, but. . . I think the first mistake is loaning out your tractor. Where we come from a tractor is something real personal . Would you loan out your wife or kids for trade on something? I know I wouldn't. I do a lot of "freeby" work for others and am glad to do it but. . . I own the equipment, I maintain the equipment and I run the equipment. It's easier to forgive your self when something brakes than if someone else broke it for you.
Theres only 2 people I would ever, ever loan anything to, First my dad, He's passed away now but he had access to all of my equipment, and my uncle Jerry. Now remember this is only my 2 cents worth, Your tractor, Your rules.
Also I have found it extremely difficult to collect past due labor trades when you need them. I might be wrong though, but this has been my experience.
There is the possibility of loosing a good friendship there the way things sound. Good luck, and be gentle with your remarks if'in something goes bad.. JOHN

 

[jpm1]

It's a nice idea to help out friends and neighbors, but. . . I think the first mistake is loaning out your tractor. Where we come from a tractor is something real personal . Would you loan out your wife or kids for trade on something? I know I wouldn't. I do a lot of "freeby" work for others and am glad to do it but. . . I own the equipment, I maintain the equipment and I run the equipment. It's easier to forgive your self when something brakes than if someone else broke it for you.
Theres only 2 people I would ever, ever loan anything to, First my dad, He's passed away now but he had access to all of my equipment, and my uncle Jerry. Now remember this is only my 2 cents worth, Your tractor, Your rules.
Also I have found it extremely difficult to collect past due labor trades when you need them. I might be wrong though, but this has been my experience.
There is the possibility of loosing a good friendship there the way things sound. Good luck, and be gentle with your remarks if'in something goes bad.. JOHN

 

[TripleR]

If everything is not worked out in advance, these things rarely end well.

I don't talk to my neighbors or engage in any formal "exchanges", I help them and they help me, no questions asked. If someone doesn't want to do it then don't, no hard feelings and no sense of "you owe me" because I did something for you.

There is a reason I live in the country.

Good luck.

 

[beenthere]

TripleR
Interesting that you help each other without talking.

I stop and talk with my neighbors as often as I can catch them out and about. Help where I see help is needed and the neighbors do the same. Offer my help whenever I get a chance.
One neighbor has worked his tail off for me over the years, and I try my best to return the favor. If I do something for him, he always asks "How much do I owe you?". I tell him when I ever catch up to all he has done and that I owe him for, then I will figure out the bill. Has worked that way for 45 years. All neighbors (about 4 within a half mile of here) are not that involved, but I try to keep good relationships with them all.
A friendly neighbor watching out for you when gone is a valuable asset to living in the country.

 

[stu1951]

Thank for some very in-lighting views. I get along very well with my neighbor. He is very mechanical and has a beautiful shop. I actually store my tractor in his heated shop. I am the kind of person who wants to be fair and I know no matter what he would be there for me. I trust him. My view is that equipment is meant to be used and it is not personal to me as my wife. I have and am sure that I am equally benefited by the arrangement, but my question is wither this was a fair exchange for me as well as him. I think maybe it is a fair.

 

[vettemanwight]

I would go over and snowblow my neighbors driveway when I was out doing mine no big deal took about 10 min. That started about 8 years ago, its the neighborly thing.. well hes been layed off for 2 years long story but he is the only employee of the company other than the owner and his wife. The owner is mid to late 70s , a multi millionaire, you get the picture.My neighbor has a almost new snowblower sitting in his garage, he has NEVER used it thi syear and we have had most snow this year than in 5 previous years.He has 8" of hard packed snow that he drives on because he refuses to do his driveway and I assume he expects me to clean it for him. I dont know what he does all day!!!!!!!!! I have gone over and done it but not like I used to I dont like being used but I am more than willing to help someone in need without expecting something in return.

 

[stu1951]

Yes it a two way street! I love helping out people! But I hate to be taken for granted ! We train people how to treat us

 

[TripleR]

TripleR
Interesting that you help each other without talking.

I stop and talk with my neighbors as often as I can catch them out and about. Help where I see help is needed and the neighbors do the same. Offer my help whenever I get a chance.
One neighbor has worked his tail off for me over the years, and I try my best to return the favor. If I do something for him, he always asks "How much do I owe you?". I tell him when I ever catch up to all he has done and that I owe him for, then I will figure out the bill. Has worked that way for 45 years. All neighbors (about 4 within a half mile of here) are not that involved, but I try to keep good relationships with them all.
A friendly neighbor watching out for you when gone is a valuable asset to living in the country.

What can I say, I'm a complicated guy.:laughing:

 

[Argosy]

Yep that should have bin talked about earlier. i just help my neighbors and dont charge anything.:thumbsup: That way if i hit something or dont show up its not my fault!

Agree on both counts.

I also think keeping your tractor in a heated shop is worth something that needs to be considered in your labor for machine swap.

 

[beenthere]

........ I have and am sure that I am equally benefited by the arrangement, but my question is wither this was a fair exchange for me as well as him. I think maybe it is a fair.

Whether it is fair or not is up to you. Not something we can decide for you (IMO).

The mere fact that you are questioning the arrangement indicates it is getting under your skin.
I suggest end it, or decide it is a fair arrangement and not try to keep score. I'm betting the neighbor knows full well what he owes you in return and you will get your due.

 

[BeezFun]

My view is that equipment is meant to be used and it is not personal to me as my wife.

I'd like to live next to you, that's a very nice view to have.

 

[KWentling]

If you think you are getting the short end of the stick, how about he supplies the fuel, oil and filter for one service per year, etc. I blow one of my neighbors drives and he has permission to come and get it if I'm not around when its needed. In that case he blows some of mine too. He has helped me when I've needed a hand and supplies fuel on occasion. He takes good care operating it so I have no problem there. There are only two people I loan my tractor to, and I was reluctant to do that at first. There some that I would no way let operate it.

Kim

 

[DAY]

I was taught that anytime you borrowed something, you returned it in better condition than you got it. (Sharpened, washed, full tank of fuel, whatever)

 

[TripleR]

I was taught that anytime you borrowed something, you returned it in better condition than you got it. (Sharpened, washed, full tank of fuel, whatever)

Same here and it is what we taught our children. I no longer borrow anything, but it was common when I was growing up on a farm. Now if I need something I rent or buy it.

 

[Don87]

It's a nice idea to help out friends and neighbors, but. . . I think the first mistake is loaning out your tractor. Where we come from a tractor is something real personal . Would you loan out your wife or kids for trade on something? I know I wouldn't. I do a lot of "freeby" work for others and am glad to do it but. . . I own the equipment, I maintain the equipment and I run the equipment. It's easier to forgive your self when something brakes than if someone else broke it for you.
Theres only 2 people I would ever, ever loan anything to, First my dad, He's passed away now but he had access to all of my equipment, and my uncle Jerry. Now remember this is only my 2 cents worth, Your tractor, Your rules.
Also I have found it extremely difficult to collect past due labor trades when you need them. I might be wrong though, but this has been my experience.
There is the possibility of loosing a good friendship there the way things sound. Good luck, and be gentle with your remarks if'in something goes bad.. JOHN

I'll trade my wife for a 30 pack of Busch Light:laughing::laughing:

But to the OP's question, you are keeping your tractor in his heated garage. That's a lot if you are keeping score.

On another note, I have one neighbor that is perfectly welcome to use my tractor, tools, car, pickup, logsplitter.........because he takes very good care of his stuff, and mine also. Always comes back full on fuel.

My other neighbors..........I go with the tractor, and loan them nothing.