My partner “Murray” and I are in our 30s and have been together since high school, we have quite a lot to do with his family and his grandparents farm.
We recently bought a title off his pop “Dan” and are now his neighbours, we frequently use each others equipment/utilities and try to work in together.
8-10 years ago while Murray bought an old but tidy and well running Ute as Dans was getting old and he needed to replace it. He did all the work to get it and paid $3000+
When offered the Ute, Dan poo-pooed it and said he didn’t want it. We had it now so thought we will keep it until we buy our own farm. After a few months Dan started using our Ute, we assumed he would pay us for it and take owner ship but after a few conversations it never happened. We were mostly okay with him using it as it was just around the farm and mainly just for checking cattle. Murray had to talk to him a few times though about not looking after it properly.
After we bought what is now our part we informed him we would need our Ute back, he was fine and just said he would buy another one for himself now he has the money from selling the land. He has since purchased a new 4wd, camper van, tractor, caravan and other not so big ticket items but no Ute. Murray even offered a brilliant one a friend of his was selling for a decent price but he took too long and missed out on it. Back in September we sat down with Dan and said we need the Ute back by November, “yep, all good”
Come Christmas he was still using it and turns out not looking after it at all, there had been no servicing or repairs and he’s very rough with it. Even abandoning it down the paddock when it wouldn’t start, leaving Murray to spend the better part of a 40°c day working on it to get it running as it had the fire fighting unit on it and there was bush fire in the area.
So the other night I tried to use the Ute to set up some fencing, the tray was completely full of rubbish burying the things I needed and there was even a rotting bag of meat full of maggots tucked in the corner. Inside the Ute was also full of rubbish just enough room to sit on the seat. The window winders have been pulled off, the arm rest/handle to close the door ripped off, the speaker and cover missing, the windscreen wipers scraping bare metal down the window to name a few things wrong. Everything I touched or looked at was broken, dirty or covered in rubbish. Then I tried to start it, no luck. Once Murray had got it going I set my fences up, then, still fuming, took anything that looked important to Dan out of the Ute and drove it into town where it will stay until we finish spending way too much time and money to restore it.
Murray’s uncle thinks I’m justified but other family members think I’m rude and harsh just taking it like that.
Should I take the Ute back until he gets another one or is this a FAFO lesson for him and I should stick to my guns?