What's your response when people ask you to help them with your van?

[One Awesome Inch]

Today I got asked by a guy I know to use my van to move a bed he is being given. Currently, the van is full of construction materials, not to mention sawdust and bit of foam insulation. I  gave those reasons for me saying 'no' to him. However, down the road I could imagine someone wanting use of my van to help them move etc. Unless, its a really good friend or close family member... its just not something I want to do. But how do you say no without sound rude? Oftentimes, people may assume the van is empty because I am trying to keep my living situation private. Of couse, it will have my bed all my stuff in it which complicates things further... even I did want to give assistance.

So how do you say no without sounding rude?

 

[GotSmart]

I really wish I could help. (No reason needed)  Lowes or Meeks rents trucks for not much~~~ So does Uhaul.  

 

[Almost There]

Right now I didn't mind when my closest g/f asked if I could help her with taking the yard debris to the dump...the back tailgate door on her minivan won't open right now and she's struggling to find the money for a set of summer tires.

But then she's always there when I need a hand with something or other. Actually she's going to be my landlord come fall when I leave town for the winter.

The back of the van is wide open right now but once the cabinet work and the bed are finished, there's no way it would be used for lawn debris...

 

[Reducto]

Just tell them it's set up as a camper and there is no room inside. You don't have to tell them you're living there. If they press the issue just say you use it to take trips.

 

[Canine]

Same as Reducto. Let them know you have a bunch of not easily moved stuff, it's your "storage shed" or something. That's where a conversion van helps, most people assume it has all the chairs and folding couch in it, so they don't even ask.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Right now I didn't mind when my closest g/f asked if I could help her with taking the yard debris to the dump...the back tailgate door on her minivan won't open right now and she's struggling to find the money for a set of summer tires.

But then she's always there when I need a hand with something or other. Actually she's going to be my landlord come fall when I leave town for the winter.

The back of the van is wide open right now but once the cabinet work and the bed are finished, there's no way it would be used for lawn debris...

Good response. Your friend helps you so its nice to help back. Unfortunately, the guy that asked me is a bit of a 'user' and often asks if I can give him any clothes or anything else. I made the "mistake" of telling him that I'm a minimalist and often downsizing. Anyway, as I mentioned I would gladly assist someone who I was close with or helped me out somehow. 

 

[SoulRaven]

Mine is a very obvious camper van, and I make it no secret that I live in it.

When I get asked, which is fairly frequent, I tell them that if they rent a U-Haul or similar I would be more than happy to pull it for them.

 

[cyndi]

No is a complete sentence.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

No is a complete sentence.

And a lot more polite than " Hell No!".

Regards
John

 

[ccbreder]

"No, the van is not set up for that." maybe "if you can get a truck, I will help you" or not

 

[jimindenver]

Coming to this site makes me miss my vans but that part of owning them I don't miss at all. We use to help a lot but after a while it's nothing more than van abuse. Just say no.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Although I have a pick-up and camper, the issue is the same.  There are a few very good friends that I would unload the camper for, but for most I just explain why it is a major pain.  -- Spiff

 

[mconlonx]

I got a transfer station sticker for the van when I registered it and initially it was very useful when clearing out the old house, but now, if people ask, I reply with: "Sure -- will you need help getting that trash out of your bedroom?" Which usually results in a quizzical look, and then I have to explain that the van is my bedroom, and if it's anything they wouldn't keep in their bedroom, it's not welcome in my van.

Of course this wouldn't work in the case of the OP, with a mattress which may certainly have actually been in a bedroom, and it's easy enough to get a hammock out of the way, but most of what I'm asked to haul is messy, dirty stuff. So: no.

I used to own a pickup truck. You never know how many friends you have until you get one of those, and your group of friends tends to grow if you also have a chainsaw...

 

[GotSmart]

A friend in need is a friend indeed~~~ Boy was I surprised when I googled this!   :blush:

 

[jimindenver]

Owning a Home care service, we have all the cool toys. At one time we had two vans, a panel truck and a 17 ft flat bed trailer too. We were VERY popular when someone needed something. I had to stop loaning tools because they either came back trashed or not at all. The last three times we helped someone, the first we didn't hear from for 6 months until they wanted to move again. The second was going to leave to get stoned until I threatened to dump the trailer in the street. the last time i was to drive and move a few things with a appliance dolly since i had a injury. I quickly noticed that everything was being stacked for me to move with the dolly while they bickered. They didn't start doing anything until I said well if you are on break, so am I.

Anymore the Expeditions don't hold much but we still have a pickup and pickup trailer. I don't have a problem saying no and don't offer any reasons.

 

[GotSmart]

I have loaned tools out to select people. I am not shy about asking for them back if they are not returned on schedule. During and after RTR there were a lot of tools and help passed around. Everyone there was willing and ready to help out in any way they could.

I more than likely return next year, as missing winter was nice.

 

[LeeRevell]

Y'all know that old saying,
"A friend helps you move. A good friend helps you move the bodies!"
All my buddies have pickup trucks, and we all have open cargo trailers, so not a problem.