Protecting the Mailbox

[GAFarmer]

Do ya'll think it's possible to build a metal cage to protect a mailbox? We keep getting mailbox smashers around here and they are killing our mailbox. And the police never do anything about it. Please help before I go broke buying mailboxes!!!!!!! [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[GAFarmer]

I'm sorry. Could a mod please move this to the outdoor section? Sorry.

[LazyJ_Arabians]

I just saw this over on TBN and it got me to thinking "outside the box"

John Deere Mailbox

[rcaretti]

When we built our place in a somewhat remote location off a dirt/gravel road, I didn't initially notice the neighbor had a very heavy duty welded mailbox that they obviously had made for the same issues you are having.

So far, we've had our mailbox ripped out of the ground, mail tampered with, etc.

We did end up buying a box that can take a little more abuse than the average box, but will have to get something made if the mailbox smashers really get serious.

The problem you run into is that I don't think it's really legal to use a box that won't break-away when hit by a car.

It's sad, but I agree with you that the postal service and police don't want to be bothered following up on this type of thing..

I have thought about getting a square solid steel box made to insert into a standard mailbox. That would be an unplesant surprise to the would be box smasher...

[GaryM]

I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned here before, but one suggestion was to suspend a smaller mailbox inside of a larger one and fill the space in between with concrete.

Be a shock to whoever was wielding a ball bat!

[thintze]

I did big and small mailbox filled with concrete at my previous residence. We and our neighbors had the mailboxes smashed three times and sheriff couldn't catch the culprits. If you do this it takes three 50# bags of concrete and a strong neighbor to help lift it onto the post.

I moved from that mailbox 6 years ago but recently I drove past and noticed that all the neighbors boxes were smashed and the one I put together was turned slightly. None after it were smashed! [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I guess I got my revenge!!!

[Pat]

I was just fantasizing about designing a rig to mount to your mailbox that would catch the club/bat and latch in such a fashion that you couldn't get it free my normal means. The "borrowed" bat might be suitable for dusting for prints.

Alternatively: There are motion and vibration detectors that are used in automotive alarm systems. One of these mounted at the back of the box wired to a remote camera aimed to get the license of the car carrying the idiots would provide evidence to be used to halt the problem. Previoius damage should show the direction of travel of the vehicle so you can remote the camera far enough away to get the lisc and maybe a shot of the bozo too.

I smile thinking about a full automatic paint ball gun firing on the vehicle carrying the club swinger. A simpler version would be a spray nozzle like used on spray rigs and a quart of paint in a pressurized container with an electric solenoid valve to fire when the shock sensor detected the club hit. Fast drying paint is recommended. Now then how do you explain to your dad how the interior and exterior of the family sedan got painted bright day glow fluorescent orange along with you and your two buddies who were going to the library to study?

I recall that the son of my dad's boss attached a chain to a mailbox and to the back bumper of his dads car. Strong mailbox! Bumper pulled half off of the car!

Pat

Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[egon]

Make that paint balls filled with mercaptan. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[rozett]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
The problem you run into is that I don't think it's really legal to use a box that won't break-away when hit by a car.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be interested in understanding where this requirement comes from. I have seen many mailboxes built into brick columns and other substantial structures. [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[Bird]

It just depends on state and local laws and regulations, depending sometimes on what kind of road you are on. Down in the country, we had our mailbox set on a heavy steel pipe set in concrete. It was there when we bought the place, but we were on a county road and I learned that the only regulation was whatever access the mail carrier wanted. Then my brother bought 10 acres in the same area, but on a state (farm to market) road. He bought the mailbox, but could not put his own post. The state sent a man out to set a breakaway post for the mailbox. And now I'm back in town and my mailbox is in one of those approx. 2' square brick pedestals. [img]/forums/images/icons/smirk.gif[/img] The odd thing to me is that mine is the only brick pedestal on this street although there are several others in the neighborhood.