Mailbox/post question

[TT_Vert]

I'm looking to get a new mailbox and I'm trying to understand the mounting on this. Do these generally slide over a 4x4 already in the ground? Reason I ask is that the bottom of the mailbox is supposed to be 41-45" from the ground but the posts these come with are 54" top to bottom. Now this 54" post goes over the top of the 20" tall mailbox so the post is going to be only 34" or so below the bottom of the mailbox which sets it well below what is required from the USPS. Am I missing something here?

I've also linked the mailbox in question here.

Thanks guys

Dave

 

[b-boy]

I've installed a few of these. You generally set your post, then the mailbox either slips over the post, or bolts through the post.

Mine has a few inches of exposed post at the bottom, so the mailbox kit doesn't go all the way to the ground.

Wow - that's a fancy one. For that price, I'd hope there is no exposed wooden post.

Looks like you only need 18" of post above ground.

 

[LeeG]

It slips over a standard 4x4 that you already have set into the ground. It looks as if the post is 54" total height. USPS requires that the bottom of the mailbox be 41-45" off the ground, so just eyeballing, it looks as if the bottom of the assembly would fit flush with the ground. Your 4x4 could be as deep as the mailbox is high, but that is not necessary. The requirements for the box (in the Q & A) are for a 4x4x48" post set into the ground, so presumably you only need a couple of feet of the 4x4 set inside of the metal post.

 

[TT_Vert]

Thanks guys, I did find the pdf install instructions. So yes, it's 30" into the ground and 18 above. I currently do not have a 4x4 so I'll dig down and pour some concrete and set it. My concern is that even if I get it plumb to my eye on a level I've only about 18" exposed I am checking for plumb so any minor out of plumb my eye cannot perceive on the bubble level will be amplified given this is setting 54" total out of the ground. So should I set the post and before the concrete sets put the cosmetic pole over it and plumb that to be 100% sure rather than be surprised that I'm a hair out of plumb which is amplified given that 54" cover that slides over. If I have to do that i'm not sure how to prevent the wet concrete from sticking to the cosmetic post I'm going to be putting over the 4x4. Also do you guys recommend gravel prior to pouring the concrete to help w/ drainage?

Thanks again guys

Dave

 

[SGKent]

wow, some kid with a baseball bat would trigger an insurance claim to pay for a damaged mailbox.

I found the sturdiest inexpensive mailbox I could, 3/16th inch powder coated welded hardened steel, attached it to a good solid piece of plywood which was attached to a 4x4 anchored in concrete and waited. One morning there was a small smear on the mailbox and a broken car side rear window scattered around the area. My guess is someone had a very sore wrist too. Since that day no one has touched it. There was one case in the foothills around here where someone took a stick of dynamite to a mason one to see what happened. Postal Service does nothing about that kind of stuff, how can they I guess? Point is $400+ for a mail box that can be taken out by a couple kids joy riding, I dunno.

https://www.gibraltarmailboxes.com/all-products/ironside-black-post-mount-mailbox-non-post-master/

 

[bdbecker]

...I am checking for plumb so any minor out of plumb my eye cannot perceive on the bubble level will be amplified given this is setting 54" total out of the ground...

Not only that, but make sure it is square to the road as well - I screwed that up at my last house. It was only off a few degrees, but it always bugged me.

Honestly, just do your best and don't sweat it too much. The next time you drive through your neighborhood, take a look at how many boxes are askew. Chances are, you'll do better than most. Besides, even if you screw it up, odds are the snowplow will knock it over within a few years and you'll get another chance to get it right.

 

[b-boy]

Yep - I spent hours installing mine. That sucker was perfect.

Then the road crews came through to widen the shoulder of the road. They dug up my perfect mailbox and plopped it back in at about a 80 degree angle. It drove me nuts!

 

[mike93lx]

Don't concrete in a mailbox. Just dirt, compacted around the post.

If a car hits it, it can knock over. Much safer and completely adequate

 

[TT_Vert]

Thanks guys I hadn't even considered having it perfeclty perpendicular to the road but I'll make sure that is addressed also. As far as not having something nice because it coud be damaged, if I lived based on that philosophy I'd drive a 93 cavalier in fear of a door ding. There is no chance my road will be widened and well if it gets damaged I'll just fix it or replace it. Not too concerned about that.

Dave

 

[rayra]

Thanks guys, I did find the pdf install instructions. So yes, it's 30" into the ground and 18 above. I currently do not have a 4x4 so I'll dig down and pour some concrete and set it. My concern is that even if I get it plumb to my eye on a level I've only about 18" exposed I am checking for plumb so any minor out of plumb my eye cannot perceive on the bubble level will be amplified given this is setting 54" total out of the ground. So should I set the post and before the concrete sets put the cosmetic pole over it and plumb that to be 100% sure rather than be surprised that I'm a hair out of plumb which is amplified given that 54" cover that slides over. If I have to do that i'm not sure how to prevent the wet concrete from sticking to the cosmetic post I'm going to be putting over the 4x4. Also do you guys recommend gravel prior to pouring the concrete to help w/ drainage?

Thanks again guys

Dave

so set a taller post that you can make plumb to your satisfaction and then cut it down to the desired height before slipping the mailbox on.

 

[TT_Vert]

Don't concrete in a mailbox. Just dirt, compacted around the post.

If a car hits it, it can knock over. Much safer and completely adequate

If a car hits it that's on them. I don't want this thing moving around on me. Plus with the snowplows there will be some force applied to this thing as they plow through, I don't want to be doing this twice.

What I do find odd is that USPS states the post cannot be more than 24" deep yet it seems most have it buried further than that in their instructions.

•Curbside mailbox posts should be buried less than 24 inches deep and made from wood no larger than 4 inches high by 4 inches wide. Steel or aluminum pipes with a 2-inch diameter are also acceptable.


Dave

 

[John T]

Not sure what part of the country you live in
but winter and snow plows play hell on those silly plastic mailboxes around here.

My neighbors literally put them up every single spring.

Mine has been up for 20 years untouched...

Its the proper USPS height/distance from street

I’ve actually get compliments from the mail delivery people.

Its 8”x8”x1/4” square tube.
With the largest USPS mailbox I could find.


It’s fully cemented into the ground 4’

But for all you worry warts,
That is only the baseplate

The actual mailbox post has a plate welded on the bottom with 4 shear bolts.

Nobody has hit it in the 20 years

But if they do,
They will only break the shear bolts and it will be reinstalled the next day.

Plastic mailboxes suk.

IMHO

.






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[SGKent]

If a car hits it that's on them. I don't want this thing moving around on me. Plus with the snowplows there will be some force applied to this thing as they plow through, I don't want to be doing this twice.

What I do find odd is that USPS states the post cannot be more than 24" deep yet it seems most have it buried further than that in their instructions.

•Curbside mailbox posts should be buried less than 24 inches deep and made from wood no larger than 4 inches high by 4 inches wide. Steel or aluminum pipes with a 2-inch diameter are also acceptable.


Dave

omg, now we are moving highway safety to break away mailboxes. Next thing there will be crossing guards for native species.

 

[bdbecker]

USPS is just covering their butts - they just don't want to get sued if someone gets hurt from running into a post that's buried deep into the ground. 24" is a pretty good bet the thing will knock over in an accident.

Side story somewhat related... My Dad works for the county and when he first started 20ish years ago, one of the first projects he did was to spend a few weeks driving around and drilling big holes in the bases of all the wood road sign posts in the county so they'd sheer off if they every got hit. Apparently there was a lawsuit in some state at the time, so a lot of the roads departments around the country were doing this to remove their liability.

Also, the snowplow won't even notice if it hits your box - concrete or not. But, sinking it in concrete is probably a good idea so it doesn't move around on you too much.

 

[mike93lx]

If a car hits it that's on them. I don't want this thing moving around on me. Plus with the snowplows there will be some force applied to this thing as they plow through, I don't want to be doing this twice.

What I do find odd is that USPS states the post cannot be more than 24" deep yet it seems most have it buried further than that in their instructions.

•Curbside mailbox posts should be buried less than 24 inches deep and made from wood no larger than 4 inches high by 4 inches wide. Steel or aluminum pipes with a 2-inch diameter are also acceptable.


Dave

Not necessarily. I believe there may be regulations or laws in some areas on mailbox strength. But you do you.

I live in a high snow area and have lots of plows as well. I would rather have a basic mailbox that is easy to fix than something concreted in that will get knocked over anyway when a 10 ton plow truck hits it it.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

This is mine. It was old when I bought this place 40 years ago. You see where kids whacked it years ago and it's so heavy it didn't do much damage. It's 4ft in ground with a few bags of concrete.
I painted it yesterday.
I'll number it today, 1" brush oil base paint.

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[John T]

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[TT_Vert]

What do you guys feel about gravel underneath the concrete for drainage? By the way this is powder-coated aluminum.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Last year I replaced my Mom's mailbox with this Rubbermaid one. I post hole dug down about 3ft, used a 4x4 treated post and 80# bag quickrete. Post cut so box opening was about 44" up. Since it's near a main highway this one has two doors, one in back. It screws onto post.

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[BajaScout]

My dad and I put this one up in 1975. I am always amazed nobody changed it. We moved in 1977.


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[Sevenhills1952]

Here are a few good ones[emoji16]

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[BajaScout]

Here are a few good ones[emoji16]

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Creative!


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[TT_Vert]

I'm reconsidering the concrete, if I were to use rock what would you guys recommend? SOmeone mentioned ballast rock but I cannot seem to find it locally in a small quantity.

THanks
Dave

 

[Max]

If you want a sturdy box look at these: https://www.fortknoxmailbox.com

I had one at my old house and it was great. 1/4” steel simply rejects baseball bats, and it easily held 1-2 weeks of msil when we travelled.

Max

 

[TT_Vert]

At this point just looking for post securing opinions already bought the mailbox

 

[mike93lx]

At this point just looking for post securing opinions already bought the mailbox

Dirt, tamped well. Mine has been in for 4 or 5 years now like this, only buried 2ft deep still nice and solid

 

[TT_Vert]

Mike, what do you use to tamp down the dirt?

Dave

 

[mike93lx]

Mike, what do you use to tamp down the dirt?

Dave

I have a long pry bar with a flat end. Works amazingly well for this kind of thing. This is it: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Truper-Tru-Pro-69-in-Post-hole-Digging-Bar/3055437

 

[bad_idea]

Half the height of the post in the ground, 6" of gravel under the post. Dig the hole 3X's as wide as the post. One or two bags of concrete in the hole with at least 4" of dirt on top for grass to grow up to post.

 

[TT_Vert]

Thanks mike. I don't have anything like this but I suppose I could make something out of a few 2x4s.

Dave

 

[akpingel]

That's because its a sweet mailbox!

My dad and I put this one up in 1975. I am always amazed nobody changed it. We moved in 1977.


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[rburke65]

Three of us neighbors installed 2 railroad ties vertically with another railroad tie horizontally, on which we mounted our mailboxes and paper boxes. 25 years, and it has survived winter plow trucks without damage....and no one has run into it.

 

[HenryAZ]

My first welding project:

 

[NUTTSGT]

While it may seem trivial, make sure you put numerics on BOTH sides of the box.


Your mail(wo)man may only come from one direction but first responders can come from either direction. It can be aggravating as heck trying to find a house with no numbers on the mailbox, side of the house, no outside light on or anybody standing outside.

 

[bad_idea]

My first welding project:

That looks really nice. I like it.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Make the hole but some rock (up to fist size is fine) in the bottom for drainage. Set the post in and pack it with dirt, gravel or rock. Concrete adds nothing but will hold water against the post. If a car hits it it will snap off at (or close to) ground level.

 

[TT_Vert]

Thanks for all the advice guys, as always you've helped me attempt something new.

Dave

 

[captain14]

While it may seem trivial, make sure you put numerics on BOTH sides of the box.


Your mail(wo)man may only come from one direction but first responders can come from either direction. It can be aggravating as heck trying to find a house with no numbers on the mailbox, side of the house, no outside light on or anybody standing outside.

Clear BIG numbers and contrasting colors - black on white , etc
no fancy script , no clinging vines


In the middle of the night in a storm we need to find your house when you are having your emergency

 

[TT_Vert]

That's why CA. was nice, the numbers were painted on the curb. The squads out here have GPS and for the most part PD/FD are familiar w/ streets/addresses. My wife knows a house the second she's dispatched.


Dave

 

[TT_Vert]

Thanks for all the input guys, I was able to get it in today. Aside from it being 95 out and full of stone and another 4x4 post broken off it went very well. It's plumb and parallel to the street. It's also within spec for depth to street but a bit lower than 41-45" high (38") as nobody in my neighborhood is that high and it looked WAY too high at that height. I have to say i'm impressed how well compacted dirt retains this 4x4.



Dave