My mail box gets wiped out by the town plow/snow. The arm and box get knocked off the post. Any good ideas with hinges or resets so I don’t have to keep reattaching the box and arm. Moving it won’t work due to set back regulations. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
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Around here they seem to get vandalized a fair amount. Some guys have welded up boxes out of 1/2" thick metal and set them on heavy steel posts to combat the problem.
I'm pretty sure that's illegal, or against postal service regs or whatever. But when your mailbox is getting trashed on a regular basis you gotta do something....
I haven't tried this, but it looks interesting (if a bit pricey)
MailSwing
Could make that fairly easy. I like the design because if someone takes a swing at it the box may come back around and swack them. Evil laugh....++++++++++++++++++
What goes up must come down unless it gets into a stable orbit.
I had the mail swing and their vandal proof box. Box is still holding strong after 8 years ( and numerous attacks). But the mail swing tubing is too thin. SOB's pulled down on it and bent it. I welded it up but it was never right again.
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
my mailbox is lagged in with a single bolt, tight enough so it doesn't move easily, but loose enough so that it swings when hit.
box currently has a dent, but didn't have to be replaced.
have to reset it myself when turned.
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter WFR
"But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG
Around here in KY a common fix is embedding the box in a brick tower, about 2' sq. Nothing but the nose of the box sticking out.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "
Me.
There's not much you can do if the plower can't drive. Last winter the plow destroyed a 24 x 24 x 36in high mail box pier up the road from me. It does help to move the mailbox away from the street 12-18in.
Except when they put the wing down and then don't pay attention to the mail boxs.
Around us we had a highway supt. make his men go and fix the boxs they desrtoyed, it's amazing how few they destroy now!
I was thinking of something on a hinge that would return by itself. On a fancy post so it would look normal and not get destroyed every winter. Those old swinging door hinges with the spring. Would they hold up outside?
I envision a 6" well casing pipe in the ground and a 4" stuffed in that. Then the whole arm and box combo can swing sideways or in a complete circle.
Just guessing on the pipe ID.s and OD.s but you get the idea. Not quite an interference fit.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
That is the best idea yet. I can reset it manually and add a rubber flange to keep out , leaves, dirt , water and snow so it doesn't freeze. If it does freeze, it still may spin. 6" PVC may be smoother.
Yeah, use a neoprene roof boot , cut off the excess alum. plate.
I see gate hinges made that way, thats why I thunk of it. In a hinge use cutting the pipes at an angle allows the gate to rise when opened.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Better yet, put the smaller pipe in the ground, with the larger pipe over and capped, it's already weather proof.
The "Mail Swing", linked in a previous post, looks like a more evolved version of what many people have made at home and installed, on my country road in NY State.
But all those things still take a heavy beating when the plow goes down the road at speed and hits them.
My answer is simpler. Like many others in rural areas, I have a P.O. Box at the local post office where I get all my mail. When I order something that's to be delivered by UPS or Fedex, I have it delivered to the local gas station. Either way, my mail is safe until I can pick it up.
Around this area we fill an old milk can
with concrete and stick a 4x4 in.
Heavy enough that only a plow will knock it around
and ya can just pick it up and put it back if it does.
How about a split steel post with the two sections connected with a radiator hose and clamps.
Whatever you choose to do, remember your mail carrier and make sure it is still easy for them. I work part time as a rural carrier and most of our customers dont realize that we have 600-700 boxes to deliver to everyday. The winter is extremely difficult for us, too. Do whatever you need to do to secure your post/box, but don't make it any harder to open/close or farther away from the road. Please, please dont switch to a P.O. box. Rural carriers are paid by the box count, miles driven, and mail volume of their respective route. If you take away your box from them, it is taking money away from an already tough, under appreciated worker.
Thanks.
Brian
OOOHH poor me.
Sounds like every job that anyone ever does.
But I think mine is the hardest most underpaid job.
Russell
"Welcome to my world"
I was not in any way looking for sympathy. I chose the job, no one is forcing me. But, you cant argue with a little extra cash in retirement. I just want people to see things from the side of the carrier, as well as the customer.
A common approach in rural Wisconsin is to hang the box from a tall pole with chains. This lets the box move with the impact.
In Long Grove, Ill., folks had the same problem. Keeping with the upscale nature of the area, many residents had massive masonry pillars made to hold the boxes. The post office responded by suspending deliveries until they were removed. It seems there is a Postal regulation to the effect of "if our driver hits your box, and our truck is hurt, obviously it's your box that is at fault, and service will be suspended until you remove the offending structure."
Can you say Fedex, UPS, DHL? Anything that gives the USPS competition is good in my book.++++++++++++++++++
What goes up must come down unless it gets into a stable orbit.
I lived in Wisconsin and the mailboxes were built to swing. You put a pivot back about ten-fifteen feet with an arm that extends out to carry the box. When the plow hits it with snow it just moves out of the way with it.
Our next door neighbor worked for the county and drove a snowblow. Those guys get so bored plowing they keep score on how many mail boxes they knock over. and the overtime was money in the pocket.
They can always say they never touched it. It was the snow I tell ya.
sign up for airmail......just put mailbox on 16' post and airplane will deliver it there out of reach of the plows. ha ha ha....
good luck.....personally I would report it to their supervisor and have them replace it to yours and postal service regulations.
Ebe
Made of scrap in my backyard pile - 3/16 to 1/2 inch plate and some 8 inch channel, weighs about 800 pounds. Got the simplex lock for $2 a pound at a surplus store, probably the most fragile part even if only 1/2 inch is exposed.
The same creosoted post has been there for 30 years. Got hit by a burgular 15 years ago when they were surprised by a neighbor- jumped in their car and screeched out with lights off about 1 AM, left oil, tran fluiid, and brake fluid on the rock and street, but never caught - county did pull a car out of a nearby ravine a few years later <G>
recycled from : 27272
The input door swings out on a counterweight and the bottom is 1/2" rebar grill to let pressure out if anybody wants to try a cherry bomb.
View Image
How does it do with armor piercing rounds. Looks like it would tolerate 20mm cannon fire.
Putting the pipe at an angle with a pin at the post would help to return it to normal position. Add the neoprene pipe flashing and it sounds like it will work. Great ideas, thanks.
Thaaaaats the ticket!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Mount the mailbox and post to a coil spring from a 73 Chevy pickup truck. Resets automatically. Or use a bunch of coil springs welded together and leave the post off.
Just steal the Daffy Duck ride from a play ground..boinga, boinga, boinga.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Then the mailman can stuff the bills in his bill.
'zactly.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.