- Joined
- Aug 2, 2022
Slight PL.....I've done this, too. Being able to transport is a big plus. Often by the time you've messaged with your "hi, I'm getting a U-haul can I pick up the table tomorrow" the seller will be disgusted with the whole furniture selling affair and cut you a deal.
The in-town, small U-hauls are worth it for a day. Even better than annoying a friend with a truck; for that low rental price you get a vehicle that's much easier to load, and don't potentially burn a bridge.
The rules of borrowing an old truck without pissing the shit out of the owner.
1. If its not an old and kinda beat-up truck don't ask. New trucks are absurdly expensive and owners give a fuck about scratches and wear.
2. Bring it back with as at least as much gas as was in it when you got it. Most truck owners I know know the damn things have huge tanks and don't expect people to refill an empty tank for a 5 mile borrow. But we don't like subsidizing you running all over town in gas and wear on the truck.
3. Do not borrow a truck of a size or turning radius you cannot handle. If you can't drive the fucker safely dont borrow it.
4. It may be old and it may be beat up but like oh noes I gave it another tiny scratch among millions is no fucks given. Oh noes I put a huge dent or giant down to the metal scratch down the side is gonna get you in the shit book.
5. Do not assume that the owner is also free to help load or haul or whatever the fuck it is.
6. The bed is probably dirty. Sweep or hose it out yourself if thats not ok. Don't make the owner do unexpected work to do you a favor.
7. Make it clear when you need the truck and when it comes back. If you can give some heads up notice on when that's a bonus.
8. I dont care how dirty the truck is. Pick up after yourself. If they have some obvious trash in the cab its a nice thing to do to pickup after them. But dont make it worse than it was.
9. Accept any no gracefully. There is no faster way to infuriate most truck owners who will loan theirs out than to act entitled to it. You arent. No matter how badly you need it.
10. Pay your own fucking road tolls. If its pay by mail try to pick the cash lane or tell the owner and give them what you expect the toll to be. Do not just let them get a bill in the mail for your route.
11. Optional but a good rule in general, if they're saving your grass today - remember that when they need something. You don't owe them the world it was a favor but doing them a solid every once in a while if you've borrowed their vehicle a few times will go a long way to keeping the relationship good and getting to borrow their truck again.
I feel like I just wrote out the rules of borrowing from your neighbors for autistic idiots and was like "is this too silly?" Then remembered im on the farms and live in clown world.