Victim gets even

[jmc]

A guy around here says he knows a farmer who was tired of having his mailbox smashed by heavy objects throw from passing cars. A lot of people with hobbies and special interests like to decorate their mailboxes with their particular theme so this farmer decided to disguise his defense as a farm theme. He mounted a plow share such that it blocked the mailbox from car-thrown objects. And with a little barnyard engineering and Kentucky windage, he managed to tilt the plow share just right so that whatever hit it would rebound into the car that threw it. It was reported that it worked so well the first time that the car had an accident.

This sounds like a rural legend but I had never heard it.

John

 

[MistyBlue]

Around here the kids don't throw things at mailboxes...they smack them with bats. Mailbox Baseball.
I have a stone mailbox, so nobody tries to hit mine.
A house we had a while back lost the mailbox multiple times to the snowplow. We finally bought a heavy cast iron antique replica type and rebarred it onto a 2' thick concrete pad. After that the plow just made a "clang" noise when it hit it...n damage. We no longer had to go searching through the woods for our mailbox.

 

[bakerg]

The kids play mailbox baseball here in Canada too. My neighbour got tired of straighting out his mailbox so he made one out of 1/4" plate steel. The next time the kids tried to play their game all they got was a broken bat.:laughing:

 

[Baby Grand]

The kids play mailbox baseball here in Canada too. My neighbour got tired of straighting out his mailbox so he made one out of 1/4" plate steel. The next time the kids tried to play their game all they got was a broken bat.:laughing:

And a wicked, stinging sensation in the hands, I'd wager.

 

[Car Doc]

I am out in the country and have had my box smashed a few times they always get the mouth of it and that is the hardest part to fix so it closes again pisses me off.

So I built a 1 1/2" square tubing frame that sits inside and is not visible it looks like a normal box but its pretty much indestructible now especially the door.

I have new rural carriers occasionally and if they see us they always make some comment about how stout it is. Its been hit a couple times since w/o damage. I imagine the surprise on their faces when it just wont cave in. :laughing:

 

[Western]

I had the same problem once, Kids have nothing better to do than batting practice on MB's in the country. I finally replaced mine with 4" pipe column and 6" pipe top. 2 days later, I get a letter from the postmaster that said I had to remove the "structure" and install one that met DOT regulations They said it was a "road hazard" and to just report the vandalism..seriously?? I was in LEO at the time and was curious on how they would "handle that complaint?? sit in my drive way on surveillance...right.

 

[jonyyuma]

Our post carrier, informed us that the box must be to postmaster standards..Plus there is spec as to height, it cannot make them stretch, or reach...The 1/4 inch iron one just did not make it, here??..It is legal to put it in stone or brick fortress type stand as long as it is not too close to pavement???Most popular protection is usually a couple steel poles on each end or a light protection the "T" post for fencing.. One poor ole lady down the road just takes her's off the post, until the next morning and gets the paper and puts it back for the mail carrier?r

 

[Car Doc]

I feel for that gal Jony! We had so much trouble with getting our paper stolen especially the Sunday paper. Our mail box and paper box were together by the road and hidden from us by a thick arborvitae tree row.

These pukes would just swing over apparently and grab it and go. So we put the paper box up half way in the driveway where I can get a good unobstructed shot at them no more paper thefts.

 

[yandeereguy]

I've just gotten used to a smashed mailbox. it's just part of living in the country.. A buddy down the road got tired of his getting smashed, (had a real nice JD one)... He fabbed one out of 3/4 inch plate and fit it tightly inside a regular mailbox.. cut a hole in the bottom of the mailbox and welded to a pipe..

I use to live in the city (Las Vegas)... HOA's, graffiti, gangs, kids trying breaking into your car almost every night, the B.S. was never ending!!!

This country living is NIIIIIICCCEE :thumbsup:

 

[gotrocks]

"Kids will be kids."
Several years ago 4 "kids" bashed our mail box.
Neighbor knew the names. Parents were contacted.
Three of the guilty came, apologized, replaced the box.

The absent one kept denying to everyone, including his father.

Time passed he was arrested for more serious crime.

Last time I saw him was at his father's funeral.

He was escorted down the casket, wearing orange jump suit and chains.

Yea! "Kids will be kids."

 

[rekees4300]

This sounds like a rural legend but I had never heard it.

John

This sounds like a lawsuit. Our POed neighbor filled his mailbox with concrete. After he cooled down he got rid of it and replaced it with cheap-o plastic one. Said it would be less expensive to buy a new mailbox than a lawyer if some kid got hurt.

 

[zzvyb6]

Put a few cans of Great Stuff in the mailbox. Then check the local high school parking lot for a vehicle that is very well insulated. I'm twofertwo.

 

[Grateful11]

I actually know of one person that mounted heavy steel mailbox on a 6" I-Beam and the DOT made home remove it.

 

[creekbend]

Here's an idea. How to Prevent Mailbox Smashing | eHow.com

 

[chad22]

I'll admit. When I was 8 years old. I used to walk down the road and hit the mail boxes with an aluminum bat.

My dad was driving down the road and spotted me. He caught me in the act. He made me go around to each house and tell them what I did and made me fix what I destroyed.

I was out there every day after school for a week replacing about 20 mail boxes that my dad bought.

I also got my butt whooped with his belt. I deserved it too. And never beat a mail box after that.

I'd do the same thing with my kid, (if I had one) and hope that it would put an end to them smashing the mail boxes. And set them straight.


Chad

 

[scrappy isb67]

Dad's was mounted on an upside down L shaped piece of pipe. the vertical leg of the L was set in the ground 3-4" but it wasn't anchored.
When something hit it, the box would pivot away from the road. It got hit a few times but hasn't destroyed the mail box.

 

[Oaktree]

Mine's all rusty, beat-up & dented, but hasn't been hit in the 8 years I've lived here. I guess it takes all the fun out of it when it's already trashed.

 

[Car Doc]

Mine's all rusty, beat-up & dented, but hasn't been hit in the 8 years I've lived here. I guess it takes all the fun out of it when it's already trashed.

That's it! We all fix em or replace em and there in lies the challenge to the punks if its old it isn't as much fun! :thumbsup:

 

[murphy1244]

Snowplow guy in our township has his fenders done with x-ed out mailboxs, he got mine twice last year and the town replaced it.

 

[beersngars]

Around here, they blow them up with BIG fireworks. Mine got hit a few times over the years. Made me real mad, but then I thought back to my youth. Visions of soap, tolit paper, thumb tacks, firery bags of dog poo etc.......:ashamed: