I have a renter of a farm house I own that wants to borrow my 16 foot car trailer. He has sort of been down on his luck and if it wasn't for bad luck he wouldn't have any luck at all. This opportunity could be the turning point in his joblessness. He says he has a job lined up to haul a semi tractor cab from St. Louis back to Iowa. So my trailer with marginal taillights and turn signals would be on the road possibly 600 miles round trip. His driving record is not the best. I question whether his old Dodge Dakota is worthy of the trip. I think he might be a drinker as well. Anyway by loaning him the trailer am I putting myself in a position of liability should something happen on the road?? Is renting him the trailer any different than loaning it? I really hate loaning equipment out as well as borrowing someone else's equipment. I don't want to hurt his opportunity for success, but have to look out for myself.
- Thread starter andy r
- Start date
Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
Good question, especially since you have gone on record as knowing your trailer's limitations or issues, along with his own personal ones. Not that anybody is going to track you down through a YT post though. Up here, at least in Alberta, it is my understanding that once a trailer is hooked up to a vehicle, the insurance liability coverage that the vehicle has is applied to the trailer. I don't believe trailer owners here carry separate policies on their trailers unless for property coverage for fire or theft or things like that. Once again, just things that I've heard or been told. Obviously, you should ask your own insurance agent or local authorities, etc.
If your trailer is involved in any kind of mishap you are liable. Sad that you can't help a legit hard luck case but you have to protect yourself. Understand that any plaintiff's attorney names every party in a suit possible based on who owns what at the accident scene and only once in court do certain parties get dismissed if they are not found to be at the source of an accident.
Check Break
Member
Are both of you joking or just posting when impaired.
560Dennis
Well-known Member
- Location
- Madison,Ohio
I ask my agent
Mine is cover under the towed vehicle . I borrowed a truck , my trailer is cover under the towed vehicle.
But not if its stolen from that vehicle , your out that ! I got coverage for that under my policy, was not much 5 bucks a half ,its cheap anyway.
So if you hauling a family heirloom on your trailer an it get stolen you better have insurance .
Asked your agent ,better ask
Mine is cover under the towed vehicle . I borrowed a truck , my trailer is cover under the towed vehicle.
But not if its stolen from that vehicle , your out that ! I got coverage for that under my policy, was not much 5 bucks a half ,its cheap anyway.
So if you hauling a family heirloom on your trailer an it get stolen you better have insurance .
Asked your agent ,better ask
Goose
Well-known Member
Are you serious? Myself, I'd shy away from it, but it's your decision.
When I had my full time shop in town, people always wanted to borrow my car trailer. It's a hefty trailer, and empty weighs 2,000 pounds. I'd ask them what they had to pull it with, and they'd have an old van with a fishing boat hitch on it. I'd tell them to forget it.
I finally made a policy that if someone needed something hauled, I'd haul it for then for a price but I would not loan or rent the trailer out.
When I had my full time shop in town, people always wanted to borrow my car trailer. It's a hefty trailer, and empty weighs 2,000 pounds. I'd ask them what they had to pull it with, and they'd have an old van with a fishing boat hitch on it. I'd tell them to forget it.
I finally made a policy that if someone needed something hauled, I'd haul it for then for a price but I would not loan or rent the trailer out.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
No way will I loan anything.
Instead, I will use my truck, my trailer or
my tractors, my time to help someone.
Lawyers will go after deep pockets.
Not the pockets of someone down on their luck.
How do you know if the neighbor has insurance on his truck?
A neighbor wanted to use my trailer.
Bald tires on truck, no brake controller on his truck, no 7 way plug.
Want to help, spend your time and help him...Save yourself a lot of grief.
Instead, I will use my truck, my trailer or
my tractors, my time to help someone.
Lawyers will go after deep pockets.
Not the pockets of someone down on their luck.
How do you know if the neighbor has insurance on his truck?
A neighbor wanted to use my trailer.
Bald tires on truck, no brake controller on his truck, no 7 way plug.
Want to help, spend your time and help him...Save yourself a lot of grief.
shaun wallace
Well-known Member
Let him rent one from U Haul. He can drive to St Louis rent oneway.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
It has 2 split tires and is not going to get new ones. (lower the pressure in at least one) there is zero future in loaning the trailer. Jim
coonie minnie
Well-known Member
If he can't get a job now, he never will. I don't think I'd keep him as a tenant if he can't keep a job.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
You have nothing to gain and everything to lose.No brainer,no way,no how.And if your name is on the trailer title you can bet you'll be sued if there is a problem.
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
I'm not sure this is a serious question, but in case, have you considered that he will be hauling someone else's property for hire? That might change the situation.
jimg.allentown
Well-known Member
Down on his luck, unemployed, and a 2 day job? Really?
First thing you stand to lose is the trailer itself. Then there is the issue of tires, brakes, and any other potential breakdowns. Follow that with liability for the item being transported. Add to that any liability for damage to bystanders.
You have the potential of being sued from several different directions along with the possibility of losing the trailer to being abandoned with a breakdown many miles from home.
I sure would take a hard pass on that one. He should rent one from a professional rental company. They know how to deal with these things and have the resources to bail him out of whatever trouble he gets into. Just my opinion.
First thing you stand to lose is the trailer itself. Then there is the issue of tires, brakes, and any other potential breakdowns. Follow that with liability for the item being transported. Add to that any liability for damage to bystanders.
You have the potential of being sued from several different directions along with the possibility of losing the trailer to being abandoned with a breakdown many miles from home.
I sure would take a hard pass on that one. He should rent one from a professional rental company. They know how to deal with these things and have the resources to bail him out of whatever trouble he gets into. Just my opinion.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
Didn't work that way for us.
I had a 20' deckover that was being towed behind a 3/4-ton truck. Got in an accident. I had not put insurance on the trailer nor contacted my agent as time was an issue. Too bad for me! State Farm (at least in Minnesota) now requires separate insurance on each trailer. So now I have insurance on 3 different trailers, as well as full coverage on the truck.
Don't even ask me about non-vehicle contents on a trailer. That part went way over my head at the time, but there was some mention of some of the stuff falling under the household policy, even though the accident happened out of state. Arg!
chuck from neb
Member
No dont rent it to him ..tell him to get a job there are plenty out there
John in Mich
Well-known Member
- Location
- Ypsilanti, Michigan
I get very cold in that kind of situation. Even if it was a family member. NO!
Now that I have said that my son, just today, took my 16' tandem axle 10,000 gvw trailer on a 200 mile round trip to pick up a snowplow for his 2003 Chevy 4x4.
Now that I have said that my son, just today, took my 16' tandem axle 10,000 gvw trailer on a 200 mile round trip to pick up a snowplow for his 2003 Chevy 4x4.
I will say, Ive offered up help to several people that needed trailer help in the past. My trailer so I go and assess the situation because. Twice Ive turned down the haul because it was probably more than trailer capacity. Im not opposed to helping someone but not at my expense.
John Deere D
Well-known Member
Quote:
His driving record is not the best.....
I question whether his old Dodge Dakota is worthy of the trip.........
I think he might be a drinker as well.........
Anyway by loaning him the trailer am I putting myself in a position of liability should something happen on the road??
I really hate loaning equipment out as well as borrowing someone else's equipment....
.......but have to look out for myself.
Put a lock on the hitch and DO NOT rent and or lend your renter the Trailer....
There are no FREE rides in this world !
Yes you are hopping he shall pay his rent ?????
99.99 % sure he shall NOT pay his rent...
Bob...Renters ....Hmmmm...
His driving record is not the best.....
I question whether his old Dodge Dakota is worthy of the trip.........
I think he might be a drinker as well.........
Anyway by loaning him the trailer am I putting myself in a position of liability should something happen on the road??
I really hate loaning equipment out as well as borrowing someone else's equipment....
.......but have to look out for myself.
Put a lock on the hitch and DO NOT rent and or lend your renter the Trailer....
There are no FREE rides in this world !
Yes you are hopping he shall pay his rent ?????
99.99 % sure he shall NOT pay his rent...
Bob...Renters ....Hmmmm...
flying belgian
Well-known Member
You can't be serious. If you really want to help this guy give him a couple hundred bucks and tell him to go get a job.
All of the responses tonight certainly reflect my own feelings. He is his own worst enemy. Blames others for his lack of success. I am sure I will be blamed for him not getting this gig. I have told him I will be his landlord but that is where it ends. Any other business between us will just make for bad feelings. His significant other always pays for the rent.
redforlife
Well-known Member
His significant other aways pays the rent. Do you have any doubts that his vehicle insurance is payed up, and current?? I sure as the heck would.
Whats the chances of this guy having a driver's license, being a drinker and all??
A job hauling a semi cab back from St. Louis doesn't sound like a job to me. It sounds more like, I owe this guy a favor/money, and if I haul the semi cab back, then I will be even with this guy.
I think I would pass on loaning it to this guy myself. This semi cab hauling deal is not going to put this guy back on the map. It's not going to make or break this guy's career opportunities wether he does it or not.
There is a similar sounding guy that lives in my area. And he is one that most people avoid at all costs. He is kind of handy at electrical work, IF you can get him to actually do it. About the only people that monkey with this guy, are a few that want some cheap electrical work done and are to tight to hire a licensed electritrition that is in the business.
Whats the chances of this guy having a driver's license, being a drinker and all??
A job hauling a semi cab back from St. Louis doesn't sound like a job to me. It sounds more like, I owe this guy a favor/money, and if I haul the semi cab back, then I will be even with this guy.
I think I would pass on loaning it to this guy myself. This semi cab hauling deal is not going to put this guy back on the map. It's not going to make or break this guy's career opportunities wether he does it or not.
There is a similar sounding guy that lives in my area. And he is one that most people avoid at all costs. He is kind of handy at electrical work, IF you can get him to actually do it. About the only people that monkey with this guy, are a few that want some cheap electrical work done and are to tight to hire a licensed electritrition that is in the business.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
Even with no liability possibilities, he is jobless for a reason.
Alcoholic felon perhaps from what you have posted is a probability.
What happens when his marginal dakota breaks down on the road 300 miles away??
If he can't fix it where it stopped, it ends up in an impound lot because it was left on the side of the road.
Your trailer as well.
He has no money to get it fixed or out off impound. He abandons both.
You might be able to retrieve your trailer for a fee.
If you can prove you are the owner to their satisfaction.
495man
Well-known Member
Run Forrest Run!
I agree with the have him rent a one way uhaul trailer.
If the "job" isn't paying enough for him to cover the cost of fuel and trailer rental, then that tells you all you need to know about his decision making ability.
Use to see a local guy "making" money with his pickup, charge $20 to haul a load of something 25 miles, then deadhead back home. Don't see him advertising anymore.
I like the response of give him the money to rent a trailer.
Now if you don't have that money and really want to help him out and YOU have the equipment,
you could do the job for him and give him the cash as a grub stake.
However, that potentially sets you up in the future as a sucker.
Now if you don't have that money and really want to help him out and YOU have the equipment,
you could do the job for him and give him the cash as a grub stake.
However, that potentially sets you up in the future as a sucker.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
So he takes on a job without the equipment or the means to go rent the equipment required for the job?
He likely is not smart enough to keep insurance on his truck no has current plates on it either.
He will likely ask for gas money for the trip.
Loan it, report it stolen and when/if you get it back call the cops and tell them you found it back. Doesn't matter if you were miles away and had nothing to do with an accident - if you have insurance or assets the lawyers will come after you if its in an accident.
Our insurance agents were renewing our coverage and repeated that our 20 million umbrella was adequate but by no means excessive. Their worst claim was a company that was involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver that clipped a car while passing it, the clipped car flipped over and was then struck by their insured's semi. Their insured was the only vehicle involved that had insurance and everyone looked to them for a payout even though they had little or no assessed liability. Even though the judge said they were at best 10% liable (maybe the driver could have stopped faster when he saw the accident developing) the payout was over 7 million. The whole court system saw it as a way to soak an insurance company to make all the victims whole - along with the lawyers that got their 30% to 50% retainage on anything awarded.
Our insurance agents were renewing our coverage and repeated that our 20 million umbrella was adequate but by no means excessive. Their worst claim was a company that was involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver that clipped a car while passing it, the clipped car flipped over and was then struck by their insured's semi. Their insured was the only vehicle involved that had insurance and everyone looked to them for a payout even though they had little or no assessed liability. Even though the judge said they were at best 10% liable (maybe the driver could have stopped faster when he saw the accident developing) the payout was over 7 million. The whole court system saw it as a way to soak an insurance company to make all the victims whole - along with the lawyers that got their 30% to 50% retainage on anything awarded.
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