New rule or I guess a New Years resolution. 100$ minimum to get me to drag either of these out to help.

[imwjl]

This is one of the reasons I drive a Miata. I’ve never been asked to tow or move anything.

Yes, no Miata here but this thread is a reminder of being happy to no longer own a pickup or a trailer. I totally get true need, but the barely $100 to maybe $1000+ of rentals some years has been well worth it.

One bit of beauty with renting is no compromise. It can be a trailer or a light truck, open or closed, and bigger than I'd want to own and drive all the time.

Very nice and lucky of @Twofingerlou to have that vintage GM in such good shape.

 

[Old Deaf Roadie]

I love owning a truck, but haven't had one in 20 years because everyone you know expects you to help them with it. I have two syllables for those people: U-Haul.
I have had Subarus for some time, and my gear fits in my Forester quite nicely and nobody asks to help them move.

 

[sax4blues]

I expected this thread to be about a Twin Reverb and PA.

 

[Twofingerlou]

Yes, no Miata here but this thread is a reminder of being happy to no longer own a pickup or a trailer. I totally get true need, but the barely $100 to maybe $1000+ of rentals some years has been well worth it.

One bit of beauty with renting is no compromise. It can be a trailer or a light truck, open or closed, and bigger than I'd want to own and drive all the time.

Very nice and lucky of @Twofingerlou to have that vintage GM in such good shape.

I hear ya, I had one little car and then then drove smaller S10 pickups or blazers for years. Hated the little car, the little S10’s worked pretty good most of the time but not a tow pig.

One close buddy and I were fixing and flipping some cars. He had a guy that would let him borrow his 3/4 ton truck and trailer but I hated being apart of that. Handful of years back I said screw it and bought my own 3/4 ton and trailer. It’s just nice to have it at your fingertips when needed, doesn’t take up much space and the trailer is pretty cheap to tag and insure

 

[TwoBear]

So around a year and a half ago or so I bought a pretty decent older one ton dump truck. I really wanted a dump trailer but about the time I was ready to pull the plug steel prices went through the roof and some of you know how that effected trailer prices. I found the dump truck for a fraction of the cost, ideal was to start some side hustle but my main work schedule screws with that in the nice weather months. Don’t get me wrong this truck has made me some money not trying when I’ve had the spare time. But to fully commit isn’t something I can do as of now.

I’ve hauled some sand and rock for the guy up the street, couple jobs I found on FB ect. I’ve used it to help some close friends. I also have a 20 foot 10k trailer with a winch on it.

I’ll give a couple examples of what’s happened the last few months….

One buddy bought a new/different house a while back. After a couple weeks they got settled and had a piles of trash. Moving boxes and bags of crap they went through and a privacy fence they tore out. I get a text, hey bud how much to haul a some trash? I told him dump fees are 50$ a ton plus my fuel. So I fill the truck up (50$) go over and he loads it up to the top with crap and trash bags and the privacy fence. I go to the dump. Dump fee was like 10$. I go back and he said man I’ve got one more load….. ugh ok he piles it up again. He said how much was the dump fee? I said 10$ for the last load. About this time his wife is coming back from McDonald’s with a couple bags of food for the kids ect. He looked at his wife and said hey you got ten bucks cash on ya?

She goes to hand me a 10$ bill and I said well that was just the dump fee not counting gas and y’all are filling it up again. Dude said well we’ve got some mc chicken sammiches in the bag go help yourself. I said ugh I don’t need that. She ended up handing me 40$. I said heck with it and ran to the dump with the second load and didn’t go back and won’t do that again.

Trailer example….

Recently a gal I know, friend of a friend asked my buddy if so and so still had that trailer in his yard and if she could use it. My buddy said well that’s not some random trailer it’s his but what in the world would you tow it with anyway and why?

Her young daughters car broke down about fifteen miles away and she needed it towed. Said buddy texted me and told me what was up and said he gave her my number. I said yea I’ll hook up the trailer and we can go get it 75$. I turned that around in about a hour and when we got back her daughter was there. She said thanks for the help. I said no problem is your mom paying or you…. Huh? I said I told your mom 75$ before I even hooked up the trailer and killed part of my evening. This gal kinda huffed and puffed and then regretfully gave me the money. I said hey id be more than happy to haul it back down and drop it off where i got it, call a tow truck and see what they’d charge.

Maybe I’m a Richard? Maybe some of you will say I need better friends? I have a couple Buddy’s I will help at the drop of a hat as do they and don’t play these games. They’re free to use or borrow what I have and vice versa

I find it funny some people think what’s yours is there’s or think you will just do crap for free. Well I bought these things with my hard earned money, I pay insurance, tags, fuel, maintenance. Don’t like it go find your own dump truck, buy your own trailer and a truck to tow it with ect.

New rule for 95% of anyone anymore, need help 100$ minimum at best to stick my keys in the ignition of the dump truck or hitch up my trailer.

Drops mic….

View attachment 1068209 View attachment 1068210

No man you are 100%
I’ve been paying AAA $40-$60 a year for a towing that never is needed.

That’s 80 to 120 between Jeanette and I. We have used it twice for other people (friend of friend/acquaintances) that locked themselves out.

I don’t know where you’re at but gas just dropped back down to four dollars a gallon here.

I’ve got a charged battery in my car and cables. Some years I’ve used it a few, times others none.

Just last month as we were leaving local Re-store, I noticed a guy with his hood up, with the security car next to him with the lights. Gave him a jump and Lickity split.

A couple years back was a memorable one where a guy had a Van, stalled at a Beachside mini mall. I saw him come to a stop actually blocking me, and any other traffic, from my right turn to leave.

He had a nice dog and it wasn’t barking at me as I approached… he had run out of gas and he actually offered me his card to go get him gas.

I declined and told him he could pay me back. By the time I got back, he had gotten cash back. He offered money for going but I just accepted the cost of the gas. I wouldn’t have even accepted it really but he handed it to me with a hostess pie. And his dog was cool.

I drive a Jetta and the computer can be touchy with jumps. At least that’s what the manual says.

We’ve jumped people with Jeanette’s Honda Accord… she’ll carry cables in the trunk but no way could I get her to put an extra battery in there, she’s way too organized and tidy, and there aren’t any warnings against jumping that I’m aware of.

I’m amazed by things I see. When I was a kid I would watch my Pop and his friends fighting to pay for things.

Waiting for people to be pulling out and slipping money into their shirt pocket so they couldn’t turn it down.

Slipping off After a meal at the diner to go to the restroom-and paying for the bill… just not being cheap and petty, and we were not rich by any means, Moneywise.

Stating a price is a great thing-And you could always lower it later if there were extenuating circumstances, and you’re well off enough to help out.

 

[TwoBear]

Agreed. Where the rub comes in is when you are paying several hundred dollars a year to the state DOT and insurance on a truck like the OPs. Trailers also are not without maintenance costs.
I can't tell how many times when I was still working that a guy would come in looking for trailer parts. Usually lights/ wiring harness, a tongue, a fender or a new jack. Just making conversation I would casually ask who was it, a neighbor or relative? 90% of the time I was dead on.
Not only will people borrow these things but have the gall to return them bent or broken just because of being related or a friendship.
If I ever need to borrow something I assure the owner that I will return the item in the original condition or better in case of any kind of damage. On the other hand if I lend something I make it clear that I want it back in the same shape that it left my house no matter how great the story is regarding the damage.

Here in California I used to have to pay $75 extra for my 56 GMC when I registered it. It was a commercial fee, or something like that, state charges, I was told at the DMV because just being a regular pick up truck, it was expected that I would get extra money moving things for people.

Oh my, I just remembered that back when I worked at The Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports, 212-49 respectively, I was asked by a “working girl” for a ride back into town.

The ladies would come in a carload after a Ship had docked, and she either stayed on to work, or maybe partied too hard/disagreed with car owner and was left behind.

I remember $20 was offered or barter.
I politely declined either, and had a fun conversation, dropping her off downtown. I had a wild girlfriend I could barely keep up with, and probably would have invited her in, but I have my drama limit.

I wonder how the government would tax me for that.

 

[TwoBear]

So around a year and a half ago or so I bought a pretty decent older one ton dump truck. I really wanted a dump trailer but about the time I was ready to pull the plug steel prices went through the roof and some of you know how that effected trailer prices. I found the dump truck for a fraction of the cost, ideal was to start some side hustle but my main work schedule screws with that in the nice weather months. Don’t get me wrong this truck has made me some money not trying when I’ve had the spare time. But to fully commit isn’t something I can do as of now.

I’ve hauled some sand and rock for the guy up the street, couple jobs I found on FB ect. I’ve used it to help some close friends. I also have a 20 foot 10k trailer with a winch on it.

I’ll give a couple examples of what’s happened the last few months….

One buddy bought a new/different house a while back. After a couple weeks they got settled and had a piles of trash. Moving boxes and bags of crap they went through and a privacy fence they tore out. I get a text, hey bud how much to haul a some trash? I told him dump fees are 50$ a ton plus my fuel. So I fill the truck up (50$) go over and he loads it up to the top with crap and trash bags and the privacy fence. I go to the dump. Dump fee was like 10$. I go back and he said man I’ve got one more load….. ugh ok he piles it up again. He said how much was the dump fee? I said 10$ for the last load. About this time his wife is coming back from McDonald’s with a couple bags of food for the kids ect. He looked at his wife and said hey you got ten bucks cash on ya?

She goes to hand me a 10$ bill and I said well that was just the dump fee not counting gas and y’all are filling it up again. Dude said well we’ve got some mc chicken sammiches in the bag go help yourself. I said ugh I don’t need that. She ended up handing me 40$. I said heck with it and ran to the dump with the second load and didn’t go back and won’t do that again.

Trailer example….

Recently a gal I know, friend of a friend asked my buddy if so and so still had that trailer in his yard and if she could use it. My buddy said well that’s not some random trailer it’s his but what in the world would you tow it with anyway and why?

Her young daughters car broke down about fifteen miles away and she needed it towed. Said buddy texted me and told me what was up and said he gave her my number. I said yea I’ll hook up the trailer and we can go get it 75$. I turned that around in about a hour and when we got back her daughter was there. She said thanks for the help. I said no problem is your mom paying or you…. Huh? I said I told your mom 75$ before I even hooked up the trailer and killed part of my evening. This gal kinda huffed and puffed and then regretfully gave me the money. I said hey id be more than happy to haul it back down and drop it off where i got it, call a tow truck and see what they’d charge.

Maybe I’m a Richard? Maybe some of you will say I need better friends? I have a couple Buddy’s I will help at the drop of a hat as do they and don’t play these games. They’re free to use or borrow what I have and vice versa

I find it funny some people think what’s yours is there’s or think you will just do crap for free. Well I bought these things with my hard earned money, I pay insurance, tags, fuel, maintenance. Don’t like it go find your own dump truck, buy your own trailer and a truck to tow it with ect.

New rule for 95% of anyone anymore, need help 100$ minimum at best to stick my keys in the ignition of the dump truck or hitch up my trailer.

Drops mic….

View attachment 1068209 View attachment 1068210

I don’t know if it’s still in effect but I got paid years ago to demo some concrete. My neighbor who worked for the city told me I could actually sell it.

I got paid for the demo and I got paid for the dump, and made money selling the concrete to a place that was even closer than the dump.

 

[TwoBear]

Cheap bastages are everywhere. $100 is more than fair considering your time, gas, wear and tear on the equipment, not to mention insurance. If you are getting out of the cab to do the loading, add a reasonable amount.

Let them go get the $20 a day uhaul, which adds $1 per mile driven plus the gas, and then add tax to the entire cost. If you can do a dump run for $100, you probably live next door to either the uhaul place, or the dump.

Seriously! We put out stuff before trash day-if it’s not so good a couple days… if it’s better stuff it gets a sign saying free and working, and we put it out after trash day, presumably to let more people have a chance.

Almost always it is gone quickly. I wouldn’t even put it out but I’ve seen others and it doesn’t seem too strange for the neighborhood.

On the other hand over the years some schmuck(s) leave(s) worn out bed frames by the same wall, Right before the cul-de-sac, sort of out of the direct line of sight of the houses, unless you’re driving and then it’s Bam right there!!!

That’s just crap and classless for any neighborhood.
On my way back this morning I noticed a spot on a large street leading home, that had two mattresses sitting outside for a few days-this morning they were replaced by two large slabs of foam-did somebody come and strip them and take the wood & fabric, or did they take everything, and the people inside spurred on and driven to try it again, with new stuff? I know foam is expensive but it’s been raining.

On my Block that mattress is still there, i’m hoping I see a truck driving by and can offer my own money to get that damn thing out of there.

 

[oatsoda]

Where I live, almost everyone has a truck

 

[WRHB]

My elderly mother purposely overpays people to do things she can’t. I have a friend who trims her trees every winter. She overpays him. Then she gives him gas money. Then she overpays him for the fees at the green waste yard. Then she buys lunch for him and his help and they sit down with her and all eat together. He told me he didn’t want her money. I told him she would consider it an insult if he didn’t accept. This is how she pays everyone who works on her house. She’s not hurting for money. She likes to visit and eat with people. And she wants good workers to want to come back to fix things. It’s safe because I personally know everyone who helps her out so there aren’t any strangers taking advantage of her and she definitely doesn’t take advantage of friends with skills or vehicles.

 

[Silent Otto]

Careful, your inner ferengi is showing. Y'all should remember that everyone who doesn't drive subsidizes your gasohol. Same with roadwork, policing, carnage clean-up etc. For every dollar you pay in gas, society pays $9.

 

[Silent Otto]

 

[Fretting out]

So around a year and a half ago or so I bought a pretty decent older one ton dump truck. I really wanted a dump trailer but about the time I was ready to pull the plug steel prices went through the roof and some of you know how that effected trailer prices. I found the dump truck for a fraction of the cost, ideal was to start some side hustle but my main work schedule screws with that in the nice weather months. Don’t get me wrong this truck has made me some money not trying when I’ve had the spare time. But to fully commit isn’t something I can do as of now.

I’ve hauled some sand and rock for the guy up the street, couple jobs I found on FB ect. I’ve used it to help some close friends. I also have a 20 foot 10k trailer with a winch on it.

I’ll give a couple examples of what’s happened the last few months….

One buddy bought a new/different house a while back. After a couple weeks they got settled and had a piles of trash. Moving boxes and bags of crap they went through and a privacy fence they tore out. I get a text, hey bud how much to haul a some trash? I told him dump fees are 50$ a ton plus my fuel. So I fill the truck up (50$) go over and he loads it up to the top with crap and trash bags and the privacy fence. I go to the dump. Dump fee was like 10$. I go back and he said man I’ve got one more load….. ugh ok he piles it up again. He said how much was the dump fee? I said 10$ for the last load. About this time his wife is coming back from McDonald’s with a couple bags of food for the kids ect. He looked at his wife and said hey you got ten bucks cash on ya?

She goes to hand me a 10$ bill and I said well that was just the dump fee not counting gas and y’all are filling it up again. Dude said well we’ve got some mc chicken sammiches in the bag go help yourself. I said ugh I don’t need that. She ended up handing me 40$. I said heck with it and ran to the dump with the second load and didn’t go back and won’t do that again.

Trailer example….

Recently a gal I know, friend of a friend asked my buddy if so and so still had that trailer in his yard and if she could use it. My buddy said well that’s not some random trailer it’s his but what in the world would you tow it with anyway and why?

Her young daughters car broke down about fifteen miles away and she needed it towed. Said buddy texted me and told me what was up and said he gave her my number. I said yea I’ll hook up the trailer and we can go get it 75$. I turned that around in about a hour and when we got back her daughter was there. She said thanks for the help. I said no problem is your mom paying or you…. Huh? I said I told your mom 75$ before I even hooked up the trailer and killed part of my evening. This gal kinda huffed and puffed and then regretfully gave me the money. I said hey id be more than happy to haul it back down and drop it off where i got it, call a tow truck and see what they’d charge.

Maybe I’m a Richard? Maybe some of you will say I need better friends? I have a couple Buddy’s I will help at the drop of a hat as do they and don’t play these games. They’re free to use or borrow what I have and vice versa

I find it funny some people think what’s yours is there’s or think you will just do crap for free. Well I bought these things with my hard earned money, I pay insurance, tags, fuel, maintenance. Don’t like it go find your own dump truck, buy your own trailer and a truck to tow it with ect.

New rule for 95% of anyone anymore, need help 100$ minimum at best to stick my keys in the ignition of the dump truck or hitch up my trailer.

Drops mic….

View attachment 1068209 View attachment 1068210

Most people aren’t willing to pay for quality work these day’s (at least real physical work)

You are a better man than I especially if you didn’t have an electric winch and put that car up there with come alongs

Time is worth something I would have changed at least $100

Values have changed these same people will spend 10 dollars for a cup of coffee or pay big money for trivial things but as soon as someone has a real physical skill it’s outrageous to pay that person what their time/skill is worth (yes I’m generalizing)

$100 is generous these days, just to get out on a service call we charge $275 and then work from there based on what labor and supplies we put into it ($275 can be lower if it’s something simple but that’s the starting point)

 

[acousticnitemare]

Yes, this is my truck.
No, I won’t help you move.

That's funny. I like it.

 

[robt57]

I had a 22x8.5 cargo trailer I got to move NJ to TN, two trips second with the 98 Beetle, tools, bikes..

I had it for sale in TN and learned buyers wanted me to pay them to take it before I got more than I paid for it finally.

I learned to keep it full as storage to avoid Bob's free moving company syndrome. And the times I did help move stuff folks wouldn't even offer to feed my RAM 2500 thirst, geeze...

 

[P Thought]

I have that problem licked. Easy. I just don't have any friends. Family I help whenever I can.

 

[TwoBear]

My elderly mother purposely overpays people to do things she can’t. I have a friend who trims her trees every winter. She overpays him. Then she gives him gas money. Then she overpays him for the fees at the green waste yard. Then she buys lunch for him and his help and they sit down with her and all eat together. He told me he didn’t want her money. I told him she would consider it an insult if he didn’t accept. This is how she pays everyone who works on her house. She’s not hurting for money. She likes to visit and eat with people. And she wants good workers to want to come back to fix things. It’s safe because I personally know everyone who helps her out so there aren’t any strangers taking advantage of her and she definitely doesn’t take advantage of friends with skills or vehicles.

That’s so nice to hear, I grew up with things like watching my Aunt Vivian clean our hotel rooms, either before, or with the people that came to work.

My uncle was playing bass in Vegas, and I would travel with them during the summer months as a kid.

When we returned home, all three of my mothers sisters employed the same woman-I remember her name was Ruth, to clean house.

When lunchtime rolled around (I was raised by all of my Aunts and Grandmothers in addition to my Parents) each of them had already fixed up a nice spread, which we sat down to and the ladies kvetched, with food and drinks.

I noticed in addition to the pay there was always a fifth of paper wrapped booze from each. If they hadn’t drank too much Ruth would get a ride home, or at the very least to the bus stop…

Those actions/behavior handed down to their children-my cousin Stevie gave the lady that took care of their house a separate suite, cars, and paid handsomely for going on vacations with them with the kids…

Stark contrast to a schmuck that takes advantage of the woman that owns my house. This P.O.S.omething charges for every lackluster job, steals from the garage, Does things like has her bring him money for his books when he’s in jail, and in older days cigarettes, but has never paid her back and charges for any run to the store while never giving change.

He just shows up never calls… all I can figure is her son died young and this fool has taken a place in her heart somehow.
I’ve tried to be understanding… but I’ve never experienced more than two days of social behavior out of a week.

Maybe he’ll drink all the milk or make a four slice raisin bread sandwich, maybe eat all the whip topping or suck the propellant out of the can… this is a guy that shows up with nothing and leaves with two plastic store bags… tries to bum money, then leaves losing scratchers behind…

Oh my I’ve gotta go play…I started off feeling sweet and let down my guard and that moron crept in…

 

[TwoBear]

I hear ya, I had one little car and then then drove smaller S10 pickups or blazers for years. Hated the little car, the little S10’s worked pretty good most of the time but not a tow pig.

One close buddy and I were fixing and flipping some cars. He had a guy that would let him borrow his 3/4 ton truck and trailer but I hated being apart of that. Handful of years back I said screw it and bought my own 3/4 ton and trailer. It’s just nice to have it at your fingertips when needed, doesn’t take up much space and the trailer is pretty cheap to tag and insure

Yesterday morning I was coming back from getting gasoline for the mower and you know those cars or trucks that you see and you just go WOW!

You either want to speed up a little or slow down a little so you can see them a little better… A gentleman had a elder four-wheel-drive Toyota Truck in remarkable shape-nondescript cream colored with factory hubcaps— not sure if they had that 22R motor with 4WD, but what a beaut!

The truck I mean…come to think of it the guy looked happy and carefree.Ha

 

[fretknot]

$100 is more than fair, and probably not enough. I'm always happy to pay the fees that guys ask, when they pick up and deliver gravel or firewood. Gas and diesel are not cheap and trucks need maintenance, they do the heavy lifting.

 

[Jakedog]

I run into the same thing. “Can your band come play the company bbq?” Sure. Since you’re a friend, I’ll forego the usual corporate event pricing and give y’all three hours for $600. You’d think I tried to burn their house down.

Now from my point of view? I’ve got a guy for everything. And I mean everything. Roof? I know a guy. Hot water tank? I know a guy. Tile job? Tree removal? Brake job? You guessed it.

They’re all people I know. Either fellow musicians or supporters. Many of them are retired or semi-retired but like to pick up jobs. They’re all friends of mine. Not casual acquaintances, people I really know.

I would not DREAM of asking any of them to work for free. I don’t haggle with their prices. I figure if I need a job done, and I want someone with the proper skills and and equipment to handle it, it’s going to cost me some money. Whatever that is, I generally consider it a small price to pay to never have to learn how to do that crap myself. I’m not made of money by any means, but I have no issue paying for quality work. As a pro musician I understand all too well that time and equipment are not free.

I had a new hot water tank installed last week. My wife called our HVAC company. We had a new furnace put in two years ago and they told her then that it would need replacing soon and to call them. They quoted $1750 for a new 40 gallon tank. And said they could be here in a week. I said hold on, lemme call Matt.

Matt is a recently retired head of maintenance for a local school district (and a helluva blues singer) who came the very next day and did a 50 gallon tank for $1k.

Now a lot of people would balk at paying a band mate and beer buddy a thousand dollars to help them out. I’m just glad it’s done, done correctly, and saved me $750 and waiting a week for hot water.

OP- if I had a job that required a dump truck or twenty foot trailer, I’d see $100 as a bargain.