I am loathe to loan out tools and vehicles. I've helped family with moving but, I drive my truck. You pay the fuel. You'll help me load and unload. We'll get it done but you are not getting the keys and driving off sight unseen. I cannot trust that they will even fuel it at all or correctly. (Premium only on factory high-stress, high compression mill)
But I have a good neighbor story, as I'm just a loathe to borrow equipment/ vehicles. A rental property neighbor on one side borrowed the other- side neighbor's trailer for moving. It was returned with damaged wiring and a busted tail/tag illumination lamp.
I had a major cleanup project that I could tackle if I just had a touch more hauling capability. I asked the neighbor about his trailer. He was willing to help but complained about how he got it back in a shambles. I said to him, "I'll bring her back better than you loaned it as a thanks." It had an oddball trailer hitch size, so he gave me his locking adaptor, keys and permission. I repaired it first, used it, then returned it.
He got a new, complete wire harness, adaptor for the trailer electrics and updated, bright new LED running and tail/tag lamps. When I dropped it off, the fresh paint was still sticky, but he appreciated it. From then on out, neither of us hesitated to loan tools or equipment to one another, turns out, he was just as willing to maintain any of my borrowed gear as I was when I borrowed his. I even slipped him ½ his registration fees one year because we both ran the heck out of his utility trailer.
Not all borrowers are bad. But I'd say responsible ones are rare. Yet rarer yet are those willing to pony up wear 'n' tear and operational costs, let alone deal with damages. I've learned to handle it on a case by case basis... and use your eyes. How does their vehicles, equipment and tools look? If they show at least a little pride in ownership, I'm more likely to say, "Yeah bro, go ahead."
