Sharing a lorry - will it end in tears?

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kanter

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Just wondered if anyone had successfully shared ownership of a lorry?

I've been looking for a 7.5t box for ages but just can't find anything I like in my budget. Briefly thought about getting a 3.5t but not sure I want to rule out being able to take 2 horses. My friend has a trailer but often we take both horses out together in my current lorry. Today my friend suggested selling her trailer, which she hardly ever uses, and putting some money towards me getting a better lorry. I am nervous about it though, for many reasons. We didn't discuss any details, she just said to have a think about it. Any thoughts , anyone?
 
Depends what she is like, some people can share no problems and some people just cannot bear others being involved in what they deem as 'their stuff' so I would say - sounds like a plan but how well do you know this other person, does previous experience suggest that this might be a good idea with her. Also, have a good chat about all eventualities with her before committing.

X
 
i tried sharing one. Unfortunately, it didn't end well! I lost out on a lot of money, and din't even get my horses on it. I sold my half to the sharer, and bought a defender and a trailer instead
 
Yes, I think it would end in tears. Would you be happy to lend her your car? What happens when you both want it on the same weekend. Can you both legally drive it?

As ridiculous as it may seem I keep my horses at my sisters and the 3 of us had a lorry each. No amount of money was worth giving my independance up for.
 
I did it with friends a number of years back. They bought the lorry and I paid for maintenance and tax and got to use it pretty much as when I wanted. Upsides - I got transport at a time when I could not afford it - downside, the lorries owner expected me to get his horse ready and bring it along to shows, he would turn up and ride and then go home leaving me to bring it home and sort it out! Small price to pay though as he didn't want to go out that often!
 

we share a lorry with another person at the yard, and it works out really well for us. As long as you are clear about what each of you wants to do.
We keep a diary in ours so we can make clear what events we have entered well in advance.
You have to be prepared to make the odd sacrifice but i think its worth it.
 
It could work if you set down some ground rules that both agree too first eg who gets to use it if you both want to go to different places on the same day? I think the problem with 50/50 share is who actually owns it? In whose name will it be registered and whose name on the insurance etc. Legally speaking if all the paperwork is in one name what evidence does the other person have that they have paid in to it.

I think one way of doing this is to split it 60/40 or 70/30 so that there is one main owner and the other person just pays the 40 (or 30%) towards the cost of the maintenance, insurance etc. I used to have a type of share in the 3 horse box and I paid 1/3rd of upkeep, fuel etc for the one space in the box. I always asked if I could use on it on xx day and I knew that the owner had the last say in everything to do with it. Slightly different case than yours in that the box was already theirs and I bought into the upkeep etc. The big benefit they had was that I was old enough to drive it and it meant that I could take their teenager daughter out without them having to come to every event!!

Keeping a larger share means that it's still your box, you get the overall say in how it's maintained, where its taken (ie would you let her take it if you weren't using it). It also means that it's a bit less money for you to find if either of you decided you want out of the partnership.

Whatever route you take the big thing is to get everything down in writing and make sure you both sign and have copies. If anything changes, make sure you get the agreement updated. Might be worth having independent people witness theagreement and sign too. No idea whether it would have any legal standing but at least you'd have something to prove what you'd discussed and agreed.
 
I wouldnt go down that route, TBH! Just because it is so complex with the admin and legalities and being a mobile thing is risky that one person drives off with it.

If you do, recommend the advice in the post above, someone needs a controlling interest and priority to avoid stalemate
 
Thanks Ludi_doodi (and all others who have replied) .

My friend doesnt like driving much, so only really goes anywhere with me so I don't think there would be many clashing dates! She doesnt want to be without transport though in case she needs to get her horse to the vet in an emergency or something.

I wasn't keen on the sharing idea when she mentioned it, but actually now think a 70:30 split could work well. Good idea to have a formal agreement too.
 
I've done it twice. Both times with 3.5ton boxes and both times worked very well.

First time was with girl I knew reasonably well but wasn't a particular friend. She did BSJA and I did BD so we rarely went to the same places but kept a diary and if our dates clashed we had rules to decide who got the lorry. That share lasted almost 5 years until my then horse died and I decided to take a break from horses so we agreed to sell the box.

This time I'm sharing with a good friend. We used to go mostly to the same shows but I've recently changed horses so we'll be competing at different levels/events for a while.

Even if you're sharing with a friend, it's best to draft a short agreement to outline terms/eventualities so each of you knows where you stand on things.
 
i share a lorry! we both were friends before we brought one! we both brought half of it and we both pay for half of every thig it needs! we share petal cost when we go out together and if we take it out on own we fill it up our selfs!! it worked so far!
 
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