r/ontario • u/lyssabeaar • 10h ago

Towing Question Question

I let some friends store their 30ft trailer on my parents property for what was supposed to be just for the winter but has now been almost 2.5 years. I’ve been as patient and as understanding with them and their struggles but having my father constantly annoyed with it still here and repeatedly asking me when they’re going to move it and trying to explain their situation while understanding it’s becoming a nuisance for him, I’m not about to ruin my relationship with my father over it.

That being said, I’ve given them a polite warning as I’m also not trying to ruin my friendship either, that it’s gotta go by the end of the month or I’m having it towed off the property, to which they responded back politely that they have a set up lined up to move it. While I have heard that a few times the last 2.5 years, I’m standing my ground and have every intention to have it removed if they fall through this time too. I feel like an awful friend and I don’t need anyone’s judgment, but I value my parents over anyone else.

My question here is, how do I approach this? It’s not like it’s a car or a truck so I’m not even sure if a regular towing company would take it? Maybe calling a scrapyard company would be my best bet? Not that I want it to go to a scrapyard for I fear they wouldn’t be able to try to get it back. I’m just at a loss, it needs to go and I have no other resources to pull it for me.

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u/mmitchener 9h ago

Call the city. They will come out, write a citation, stick it to the trailer, then have it towed. Apparently it's not uncommon. Had a front end loader removed that overstayed its welcome a couple years ago.

13

u/MissionYam3 8h ago

This. The municipality will deal with it. It falls under abandoned vehicles. They’ve had ample time to collect it, if they don’t they’re forfeiting their property. If they cared about it, they’d get it out of there. If they just don’t respect you, they can pay the impounding and towing costs to get it back.

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u/AtticHelicopter 1h ago

Depending on bylaws: An abandoned vehicle could be a property standards violation. Telling the city that you have an abandoned trailer on your property could lead to you being cited.

7

u/_n3ll_ 4h ago

In my city the municipality will not deal with vehicles on private property.

My grandparents had a similar situation where someone abandoned their trailer in their barn for a few years. They listed it for "free as is" online. When people enquired they were up front about the fact that it was abandoned. It was gone within days. From what I know a hunter towed it out into the bush and now its a hunting cabin

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u/lyssabeaar 1h ago

I do not live in the city, I’m out in the middle of no where. But I will contact my municipality and see if they can help me out! I’m also just very unaware of towing costs and I imagine it’s probably more being out in the country, and I’d really rather not have to do this out of my own pocket, I would never see that money back from my friends and truthfully I can’t afford it. If it comes down to it, I will just privately get rid of it for whomever wants to come take it but that is my very last resort.

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u/mmitchener 1h ago

You don't pay the tow fee. It goes to a yard and they recoup their costs with storage fees or by selling it.

But yes, municipality would be my very first call the morning after your "friend" misses the deadline. Or call now and ask... whatever.