A Little Offroading...

[Stanton]

Last Friday night, someone did a little off-roading--into my ditch, through the lily bed and over the driveway, quickly and efficiently relocating my mailbox and post about 30'-0" further up the road. We're assuming it was a pickup and a fisherman, because they left half of a rod/reel laying next to the extracted mailbox.

Fortunately, I had a spare mailbox in the barn. You need those around here when the winter County snowplow drivers want to use your mailbox for target practice. The old post was reusable; a little bending back to shape and spot welding, some paint. I stood at the end of the driveway when our mail carrier came through on Saturday, holding out my cupped hands for him to place the mail. "Nice mailbox you got there!" At least we didn't miss a mail day.

Got the refurbished box installed Sunday. My wife said, "Last time we put up a box, the mailman complained that we didn't have any numbers on it..."

I'm thinkin' he'll be able to read these...there ya go.

[Peter Person]

Stanton,
I feel your pain. On our 5th or 6th mailbox in 25 years. 2 taken out by the town snow plow, the other 3 taken out by mischief makers. Plow truck took it out in early 2018, set it back in line with the utility pole about 6 feet away.
Always buy the least expensive steel mailbox, paint it IH2150 Red.

[Gary Dotson]

Several years ago, I got up on a Sat. morning to find my mail box scattered across the yard. I gathered enough evidence to know that a red Mustang with factory rally wheels and a vinyl bra had run off the wrong side of the road, nailing the mail box. I figured I'd recognize the car, if I saw it again but never did. My box has been taken out several times but that time was more interesting than normal.

[Donegal Cub]

Fishing & driving at the same time is a difficult skill to perform If postie cant read your new one, I would recommend a vist to the eye doctor

[Lt.Mike]

Took out a mailbox once leaving work after doing 4 double shifts in a row and nodding off.
(We’d get forced overtime and in those days it’d be 3-4 times a week 16hr shifts)
Went back the next day to pay for the box and they’d have none of it.
It was a body shop though so when insurance paid up to get my truck repaired I brought the work to them. Seemed only right.
Hey he didn’t own up it for you but at least you got a fishing reel out of it.

[Slim140]

I hope no one ever hits our mailbox post. It'll probably total their car. 3" x 5" square tubing 1/4" wall 27" deep in concrete

[Urbish]

I had someone do the same in front of my house. You could see where they hit the culvert, launched through the air completely clearing the driveway, and landed in the ditch on the other side of the driveway. I found lots of bumper/grille plastic indicating it was a late-model Impala. Must have been a wild ride!

[Stanton]

Fishing & driving at the same time is a difficult skill to perform If postie cant read your new one, I would recommend a vist to the eye doctor

You're right! But it's not the fishing and driving, it's the drinking until you're drunk while fishing, THEN driving home via my mailbox!

...at least you got a fishing reel out of it.

Nope, I don't fish that much anymore. Gave it to my neighbor; he appreciated it.

I hope no one ever hits our mailbox post. It'll probably total their car. 3" x 5" square tubing 1/4" wall 27" deep in concrete

That would stop 'em!

I had someone do the same in front of my house. You could see where they hit the culvert, launched through the air completely clearing the driveway, and landed in the ditch on the other side of the driveway. I found lots of bumper/grille plastic indicating it was a late-model Impala. Must have been a wild ride!

I'd imagine this guy might have caught some air over our driveway too. Sounds like we have similar setups.

Thanks for all your comments and stories.

[Donegal Cub]

I remember a time in Ireland when we didn't have mailboxes out in the country areas. The postman always cycled up to the door, by which time someone was standing out waiting to receive the letter or a newspaper, and hear the local gossip. The bicycle was supplied by the Post Office. He also would deliver small items of shopping to the elderly if needed. It was life at a slower pace in those days, and he would always have a house or two on his round where he would get a cup of tea and eat his lunch which he carried with him.

[T-Mo]

When I lived in Desoto, Missouri, we had our mail box hit several times, I'm assuming by either drunks or teenagers thinking it's funny. I thought about doing what Shane did, but you can actually get sued if your mailbox totals a car or if someone gets their arm hurt hitting the mail box with a baseball bat. Got to protect the offenders, you know.

[Gary Dotson]

It's tempting to erect an immovable mail box post but placing immovable objects, along side the highway is a really bad idea.

[(CUB HUT)]

I had a cutoff phone pole set in concreate ,got taken out by older car with
drunk behind wheal ,neither should have been on road. got sued ,I laughed
long story --short . He won Indiana law says must be breakaway no larger than
a post 4"x4"

[Slim140]

I had a cutoff phone pole set in concreate ,got taken out by older car with
drunk behind wheal ,neither should have been on road. got sued ,I laughed
long story --short . He won Indiana law says must be breakaway no larger than
a post 4"x4"

That makes no sense. What about all the power poles and trees next to the road?

You should have counter sued him for being drunk, driving, and taking out your mailbox

[Lt.Mike]

I remember a time in Ireland when we didn't have mailboxes out in the country areas. The postman always cycled up to the door, by which time someone was standing out waiting to receive the letter or a newspaper, and hear the local gossip. The bicycle was supplied by the Post Office. He also would deliver small items of shopping to the elderly if needed. It was life at a slower pace in those days, and he would always have a house or two on his round where he would get a cup of tea and eat his lunch which he carried with him.

I remember when I was a kid our box was on the house but it wasn’t nearly as charming.
If we had an inch of snow and it wasn’t shoveled he wouldn’t deliver.
I’d give anything to see things the way you’ve described.

[Lt.Mike]

I had a cutoff phone pole set in concreate ,got taken out by older car with
drunk behind wheal ,neither should have been on road. got sued ,I laughed
long story --short . He won Indiana law says must be breakaway no larger than
a post 4"x4"

It’s a bass ackwards world !
I assume he got a DWI and lost his license (again)?
So much for owning your mistakes. He learned nothing and will do it again hopefully without involving anyone else.

On the post size, what if you mount the box on a tree?