jwmorris
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If it’s Federal, they ignore the rules down south where we only see snow plows on TV. In the city it’s common to see mail boxes that are much more solid that a typical 4x4 wood post.
Mailbox studded T post ideas needed
- Thread starter al3
- Start date
If it’s Federal, they ignore the rules down south where we only see snow plows on TV. In the city it’s common to see mail boxes that are much more solid that a typical 4x4 wood post.
chim
Elite Member
When we bought our first house I made a T-shaped mailbox post from 4" SCH40 PVC. It lasted for years till a snowplow raced through after a very wet, slushy snowfall.
PhysAssist
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We originally had a DOT-grade sign post welded into a heavy-duty truck rim, which we filled level with steel-reinforced concrete.
Unfortunately, our propane driver [an apparent new-hire] backed over it, and absconded with it to hide the evidence.
We replaced it with a 55-gal poly barrel, filled 1/3 with a gravel-water mixture, with an 8' long, 6" diameter cedar log mounted and braced across the top, with a heavy metal mailbox on the road end and a truck brake disk as ballast on the other end.
The only thing we really need to do for maintenance is make to sure that it swivels freely on the ground and then when the snow from the town plow hits it, it just swings away freely, and we can rotate it back.
Before we realized the need to keep it broken free, it did get knocked over a couple of times, bit the loader picks it up easily, and it's nearly indestructible.
We got the heavy steel mailbox because with a 1000' driveway, the local HS kids destroyed a couple of plastic ones over the 10+ years before the steel one- because after a few years of UV exposure, the plastic became brittle.
Unfortunately, our propane driver [an apparent new-hire] backed over it, and absconded with it to hide the evidence.
We replaced it with a 55-gal poly barrel, filled 1/3 with a gravel-water mixture, with an 8' long, 6" diameter cedar log mounted and braced across the top, with a heavy metal mailbox on the road end and a truck brake disk as ballast on the other end.
The only thing we really need to do for maintenance is make to sure that it swivels freely on the ground and then when the snow from the town plow hits it, it just swings away freely, and we can rotate it back.
Before we realized the need to keep it broken free, it did get knocked over a couple of times, bit the loader picks it up easily, and it's nearly indestructible.
We got the heavy steel mailbox because with a 1000' driveway, the local HS kids destroyed a couple of plastic ones over the 10+ years before the steel one- because after a few years of UV exposure, the plastic became brittle.
Torvy
Super Member
Watching this for ideas. We just bought a low end box and post (steel) from HD for now. Property has never had one in the past.
Even down here where snow plows are a mythical creature, you cannot (legally) protect your mailbox in many areas.
Ours will just have a post set in a 2ft deep hole filled with concrete.
Even down here where snow plows are a mythical creature, you cannot (legally) protect your mailbox in many areas.
Ours will just have a post set in a 2ft deep hole filled with concrete.
Williy
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I have seen them with the post 8 to 10 feet from the road and
a long arm with the mailbox on the end so if it gets hit it swings
away so you can't break anything.
willy
a long arm with the mailbox on the end so if it gets hit it swings
away so you can't break anything.
willy
3Ts
Elite Member
I live on a state highway and do not have a choice in posts. We buy the mailbox, deliver it to the county road department and they provide the post, reflectors, setback and installation. In the last 10 years we've not had any problems with the mailbox getting hit. (No snowplows either)
masscity
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Most of my neighbors have pipe or brackets guarding the mailbox from damage, but it's mounted on a 45 degree hinge so when it's hit
it just swings out of the way and then swings back ether from snow or the plow.
I live at the end of a road so I don't have this problem.
it just swings out of the way and then swings back ether from snow or the plow.
I live at the end of a road so I don't have this problem.
AnotherBueller
Silver Member
As I recall the only Postal rule about mounting a mail box is the height above road surface. There is something about how far the front of the box can be from the edge of the road or turn out too, but I can't remember how it was worded. Your Postmaster is your BEST reference, next best is your rural letter carrier.
Torvy
Super Member
While the core advice above to listen to local postmaster/ carrier is top notch...the mere idea that there would only be a few regulations from what is a quasi-govermental agency is funny. Here is a pdf from the USPS on just the mailbox for all curbside pickup (includes all rural, but also curbside city as well).
This should clear things up. Hopefully.
Standard Forward Mail | USPS
Follow Postal Service regulations to buy, make, and set up a mailbox so you don't have any interruption in mail service.
www.usps.com