Indestructable Rural Mailbox?

[dougtrr2]

Another alternative could be a Post Office multiple box. I have several neighbors on small acreages in close proximity. The post office put up a locking set of boxes with a package locker also. The post office is responsible for the upkeep (even when my son slid into it).

Doug in SW IA

 

[RandyT]

In my neighborhood they hoodlums have stopped smashing mail boxes and now just steal the box. Had over 100 stolen last week in 3 different parts of the county all the same night.

 

[jaxs]

I always enjoy reading TBN threads when it comes to US mailboxes. Especially when it comes to your standardisation of the boxes themselves and the conformity of the regulations that must be adhered to.

The following are pictures of actual (and very typical) Australian rural mailboxes. Those that are an old oil drum (even the plastic ones) have a rock in them so that the Postie can put it on top of your letters so they wont blow away. And, yes, that last one is an old microwave oven... very popular (as long as the door still works :laughing.

View attachment 518035 View attachment 518037View attachment 518038

Feel free to GIS Australian Mailboxes for more examples.

Oh we have hill folks and rednecks in parts of the USA to. They just don't hang around TBN,they are busy turning corn into something for drinking rather than burning in cars. :laughing:

 

[Tomtint]

Several years ago kids were driving around smashing mailboxes. They destroyed one of my friends and he replaced it with a steel lally column and a large mailbox filled with concrete that had a 6" pvc tube inside it to hold the Mail. ....it's still there today and I guess it's 20+ years old

 

[triptester]

Seldom are roadside mailboxes installed on private property. They are on public right-away. Street lighting and sign posts are all being installed with break-away bases.
In today's world mailbox replacement is cheaper than a lawsuit. Because the mailbox is not on your property your insurance company won't back you and you on your own.

 

[ronaldbeal]

One design I have seen in rural Tennessee:
Large regular postmaster approved mailbox inset into a 30 gallon drum filled with concrete. Whole thing suspended from chain. The concrete liner protects the inner box. The chain lets it swing instead of transferring forces to the post or inner box.
Imagine this: suspended from 2 chains.

 

[airbiscuit]

One design I have seen in rural Tennessee:
Large regular postmaster approved mailbox inset into a 30 gallon drum filled with concrete. Whole thing suspended from chain. The concrete liner protects the inner box. The chain lets it swing instead of transferring forces to the post or inner box.
Imagine this: View attachment 518067 suspended from 2 chains.

Imagine that going through the windshield of somebody's car. Wouldn't be cool if it was your son or daughter.

 

[jaxs]

Names are withheld to protect guilty. Local kids bought 4x4 pickups and spent $$$$$ customizeing them. A favorite pass time was pushing down mail boxes with hopped up trucks. Calling on knowledge gained in army on disabling vehicles without explosives,someone welded up scrap metal contraptions that found their way into high weeds next to some mail boxs. One truck suffered a busted transmission case and another lost lesser but expensive items underneath while pushing down boxes. Life expectancy of local mail boxes increased after that. Sheriff's deputy said stuff might have fell off scraper trailers and vowed to incourage them to better secure their loads.

 

[rekees4300]

Imagine this: View attachment 518067 suspended from 2 chains.

My neighbor was going to put up one like that. After considering the cost of an attorney vs. cost of new mailbox he opted to buy cheap-o plastic boxes for $10. They get knocked down he just slaps up another. Now he doesn't have to worry about some kid breaking his arm hitting a concrete one with baseball bat.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Back in the old days, country boys were too considerate to steal, bash or push over a mailbox. I do know for a fact, though, that most mailboxes in my neck of the woods sported one, two, or three or more bullet holes...and I'm pretty sure they were not "stray" bullet holes put there by careless hunters.