Lending Tools for Maintenance ....

[Two Guns]

I don't mind helping anyone !!!! But this is getting crazy.
Just found a stash of chains, binders that belonged to me.
Note, I have all my tools, etc ... etc .... marked !!!

My stuff gets lost by letting friends borrow "just for a minute", and they never return it.

Found some chains and binders. Friend Forgot he borrowed them. And he forgot to return them. ( 1 year ago )
Went over to help him move some equipment with my trailer. And guess what I found at his place. Yes, they had my marks on them.
That's ok, they came home with me this time.
I've lent tools, chains, ladders, ramps, jumper cables, fuel cans WITH FUEL.
Oil, slicker suits, gloves, hitches. The list goes on and on.....

Even let a friend borrow some heavy loading ramps to load his tractor up with. I had several extra sets. BUT, I still wanted them that he borrowed back.
While they were in his possession. He lost is life. Then, next thing I know.
His daughters sold much of stuff, which included my ramps. I didn't say anything, but I was disappointed.
There is much I will not lend. And at the point where nothing is leaving my place.....
Am I the only one that is happening to or what ?
...... two guns

 

[bosshogg]

Only lend the ones you no longer want. I rarely lend out anything and rarely ask to borrow anything. Tools, chains, etc are a large money investment and when it isn't your money, easy to forget to return.

 

[skeets]

Nawww you aint alone,, I mark all my stuff too, nephew had my Snap-On torque wrench for 3 years forgot he had it,His moto is whats mine is mine and what ever I borrow is mine too after 2 weeks,,,,
My Father in law God rest his soul,, had a check list, you borrowed something he wrote it down time date and who had it,, a week later he was on the phone wanting it back ,,
To be honest I think if we all had everything we lent out back, and returned everything we borrowed, we still wouldnt have something we needed it

 

[Wild and Free]

I let people use my stuff on a very limited basis and I WILL ASK for it back after a short period of time. I had a good friend who would always borrow my brand new car trailer, He would have it for weeks at a time and 2 times when I called him to get it back I got the um ah ummm ahh I lent it out to another frien and it is in Kansas this week. Another time it happenned again it was in Wisconsin with another of his friends. I got sick of never having my own trailer being sublent and coming back trashed wires torn off fenders bent tires bad ect ect, I told him he either buy it from me or use it no more, He gave me what I paid for it brand new as he is the one who used it 95% of the time.

I now borrow it from him.

 

[Tire Biter]

This reminds me of a funny thing that happened some years ago, my father used to lend stuff to anybody who asked, and would forget after a while who had what. This one particular day, my parents were out of town, and my (then) girlfriend went swimming at their house. After a while, we decided to wash her car, and of course being it was a hot summer day, she was in her bikini . Well the neighbor, wanting to get a closer look, brought back everything he ever borrowed from my father that day. He made 3 or 4 trips over while we were out there. LOL We still have a laugh about that from time to time

 

[Wild and Free]

This reminds me of a funny thing that happened some years ago, my father used to lend stuff to anybody who asked, and would forget after a while who had what. This one particular day, my parents were out of town, and my (then) girlfriend went swimming at their house. After a while, we decided to wash her car, and of course being it was a hot summer day, she was in her bikini . Well the neighbor, wanting to get a closer look, brought back everything he ever borrowed from my father that day. He made 3 or 4 trips over while we were out there. LOL We still have a laugh about that from time to time

Maybe she should just hang around more in her bikini, then the neighbor would forget what he came over to borrow.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I have a small hand full of friends I can lend things to knowing I'll get it back. And it is understood if they trash it in any means its on them to repair or replace it. I'll loan out a few things here and there but I do have alot of stuff NOBODY gets their mitts on but me.

I've let friends borrow my trailer with the understanding that they are responsible for it and not to let anybody else use it. I get an idea of how long they need it and how far they are going with it and I let it be known if I have to hunt and track my trailer down that's it no more. I don't care what's loaded on the trailer if its not back by the time they say they'll bring it back I'll take a chain and jerk whatever is on it off and get my trailer back.

Many have tried to borrow my tractor and I tell them they can rent the tractor for X amount of dollars and I come with it as the operator. That puts an end to them asking all the time to borrow it....

 

[hodge]

I hate to borrow, and as much as I don't want to admit it, I hate to lend. It isn't that I am stingy- I will help anyone who needs it. But, I would rather take my tool and help them do the work. That tool cost me, and when its gone, it costs me more. And, helping them out with the task builds relationship, while hard feelings over things not returned makes for a strained relationship. Again, I am not stingy- I have lent tools out before, because the benefit outweighed the negative. If it built trust, or if their need was greater than the value of the tool, I lent it not expecting it back. I would rather lose a tool than a friend.
My personal philosophy is that if I need it, then it is worth buying it. I would rather have my own than risk the property of someone else. There are a few exceptions to that- I want to buy a tow dolly, because I have had enough need to justify one. But, I haven't had enough extra cash, or found a fair deal yet. A friend has one, and just aches to lend it out. So, if I need it (usually to help someone else out of a bind), I borrow his. I have done some repairs to it, and always return it in better shape than I found it. Tires pumped up, wheel bearings checked, etc. But, when the deal is there, I will buy one. That is one example.
All that being said, I won't put things above people. But, unless it is life or death, just ask me and I will bring my tools over.

 

[Lil Foot]

I have more tools than anyone I know, and I'm very particular who I will loan them to. Basically, only the 4 or 5 people who feel the same way I do about their tools and have proven that they are trustworthy.

At one period in my career, I worked as a research tech/toolmaker and all the techs shared a common machine shop, which we used in rotation. Once, in the middle of a machining job, I was called away from my machine for a short period of time. When I returned, someone I did not know was rifling through my rollaway. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was looking for that "c-clamp thingy". (one inch micrometer) When I informed him that all of the tools in this box (and the box, riser, rollaway, & side box) were my personal tools that I paid for, he said he didn't care, he was an "engineer". When he reached back into my tool box, I slammed the lid on his hand, removing most of the skin from his knuckles. He threatened to have me fired, and I offered to go outside & settle things, which he declined. I told him if he pursued this, I would report him for stealing the $200 cash that was in the box before I caught him going through it. He dropped it, and word got around to stay away from my tools. Mission accomplished.

 

[Bulldog]

You're not alone to say the least. I have a very small list of people I will lone certain things to but that doesn't include my tractors or big trailer. I have a couple of small trailers I may lone out but the line has to be drawn somewhere. I was burned pretty bad once when my stepdad let someone borrow my PHD. I didn't know it was gone and during that time he had a stroke. His memory was affected and he couldn't remember who borrowed it. I don't hold it against him but loosing a nearly new PHD wasn't cheap. I feel like some of the other guys said, it's cheaper to take it to them do the job and then return home with it that night.

 

[hodge]

You're not alone to say the least. I have a very small list of people I will lone certain things to but that doesn't include my tractors or big trailer. I have a couple of small trailers I may lone out but the line has to be drawn somewhere. I was burned pretty bad once when my stepdad let someone borrow my PHD. I didn't know it was gone and during that time he had a stroke. His memory was affected and he couldn't remember who borrowed it. I don't hold it against him but loosing a nearly new PHD wasn't cheap. I feel like some of the other guys said, it's cheaper to take it to them do the job and then return home with it that night.

Bulldog, your comment about the PHD brings up another subject about borrowing- what type of borrower are you? Not you, Bulldog, but generalizing? I bring that up because it was a shame what happened to your stepdad, and it was a shame to lose the PHD, but it was an even bigger shame that a friend would keep it, knowing that it isn't theirs. That is theft, and there is no excuse. If I do have to borrow something, I take it back to them as soon as I am done.

 

[Bulldog]

Hodge, I agree with you. I felt like it was the worst kind of thief, one that claimed to be a friend. I feel quite sure that at some point I have talked to the one who has it but they just won't admit it.

What kind of borrower am I? I feel like you said in your earlier post, I hate to borrow. Since most people that borrow in general don't take care of the other person stuff I don't like being the one who puts someone on the spot. My local feed and tack store has a small stock trailer they rent by the day. It's really handy for moving one or two cows around or like the other day when I took a bull the slaughter. It had a flat tire when I picked it up. I plugged the tire and aired the others up to the correct pressure. I told the owner when I returned it and he had a look like I smacked him with a wet fish. He said everybody else just runs it flat, nobody has ever fixed it before they brought it back.

To me that is how I would want to be treated if it was reversed. I want it to be in as good if not better shape then it was when I got it. That's what kind of borrower I am.

 

[Two Guns]

Went over to help him move some equipment with my trailer.

Will help move equipment with my equipment trailers.
For I, like others has stated, have a list that DON'T get lent out.
Some on the list is anything with a engine / tires.The answer is a
BIG NO !!!!
Other items such Guns, Boats, anything to do with my hunting and fishing. Don't leave me >>>
No tractors, machinery, Big cooker ( Big Smoker/ BBQ Pit / Cooker/ Fish Fryer, professionally built on a trailer) Ice Coolers. Lifetime Portable table and chairs ( which would never come back in a Lifetime) There is more....
I have worked hard for what I have.

Know of some people who lends out their trailers. And seems like all comes back with the fenders and lights tore smooth off. That would drive me crazy.

And then there is some folks, that come to you, walks in circles and be talking kicking a little rock around, trying to get enough "nerve" to ask.
Tell them they have a nice big bank down the road.

 

[hodge]

Hodge, I agree with you. I felt like it was the worst kind of thief, one that claimed to be a friend. I feel quite sure that at some point I have talked to the one who has it but they just won't admit it.

What kind of borrower am I? I feel like you said in your earlier post, I hate to borrow. Since most people that borrow in general don't take care of the other person stuff I don't like being the one who puts someone on the spot. My local feed and tack store has a small stock trailer they rent by the day. It's really handy for moving one or two cows around or like the other day when I took a bull the slaughter. It had a flat tire when I picked it up. I plugged the tire and aired the others up to the correct pressure. I told the owner when I returned it and he had a look like I smacked him with a wet fish. He said everybody else just runs it flat, nobody has ever fixed it before they brought it back.

To me that is how I would want to be treated if it was reversed. I want it to be in as good if not better shape then it was when I got it. That's what kind of borrower I am.

Bulldog, you are now on my list. Borrow anything you want.
Eric, you too.

 

[G-Man]

I had a friend that had a transport trailer and once a "Friend" borrowed it and said he would return it in a couple days. Months later no trailer, but lots of excuses, and he finally said that if it was not returned by the next day he would call it in as stolen. One week went by and the police was called. You know the rest of the story. The friend was arrested for possession of stolen property. My friend got his trailer back. The friend could not even believe that he would do such a low thing. He warned him.

I will go out on a limb to help anyone but when I return home so does my stuff. My stuff never sleeps away from home. Period.

 

[hodge]

I had a friend that had a transport trailer and once a "Friend" borrowed it and said he would return it in a couple days. Months later no trailer, but lots of excuses, and he finally said that if it was not returned by the next day he would call it in as stolen. One week went by and the police was called. You know the rest of the story. The friend was arrested for possession of stolen property. My friend got his trailer back. The friend could not even believe that he would do such a low thing. He warned him.

I will go out on a limb to help anyone but when I return home so does my stuff. My stuff never sleeps away from home. Period.

If it had to get to that point, the friend who borrowed was no friend. I don't know if I would have called the law (I'm not critiquing his action), but I would have gone over there, hooked up my trailer, and said my goodbyes.

 

[Lil Foot]

I guess I should have covered the "borrower" half of this equation..... I seldom borrow, but when I do, my father always taught me to return things better, cleaner, or more complete when I return them. (kinda like paying a rental fee) A close friend (the guy who sold me my Kubota) saw me struggling moving my airless, a 5 gal can of paint, and assorted stuff around my cabin when I painted it, and insisted I borrow his yard wagon. You know the kind, 4 mesh sides that fold down, tube tires.
Anyway, the tires had all rotated so the all valve stems were crooked, one corner latch pin was missing, and it was splotched with house paint from his last use. I aired down & moved the tires, aired 'em up, made a new latch pin, and pressure washed the paint off. After I returned it, (it worked great!) he looked at me as if I had grown an extra head.... he said most people don't return his stuff, let alone return it better. Needles to say, I can borrow from him anytime from now on. Oh, and I liked the wagon so much I bought one of my own.

 

[bobkeyes]

Many years ago I did road service. Had a 1 ton service with a big Mac road box bolted to the bed. I had probably 10K or more in tools in that box and on the truck that belonged to me personally. Didn't take long until NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE borrowed anything off my truck. 1 trip up in the mountains on a cold winter morning to work on a drill rig and going to my box to get a specialized tool, then realized I had loaned it and it was not returned, did the whole thing for me. I am still much the same way. I will help you fix whatever you need fixed, but I won't loan you what you need to fix it. Learned my lesson.

 

[skeets]

Maybe a little off track butI lent my Troybilt Tiller to a friend of Lil Brothers, one of those guys if it went out with half a tank of gas it came back full,, Anyway a friend of his Dad said hey can I borrow that the old man said sure,, well to make a long story short I found it in WVa about 100 miles from home and beat to hell ,,it is still inthe garage in pieces,, I just get so ticked off every time i try to get it working I just walk away

 

[Bulldog]

Bulldog, you are now on my list. Borrow anything you want.
Eric, you too.

Thanks Hodge, that means alot. I would be proud to add you to my list as well.