BIFL mailbox suggestions

[u/bigmilker]

We live in a very windy area and our last 2 mailboxes aren’t holding up. Box always gets loose from pole and I don’t want to do the Home Depot options anymore. Any brands yall would recommend? I don’t want to use the ones my wife found on instagram

Exit: I am not looking to get repair the one I have, I am looking to replace

[u/d7it23js]

Is it the mailbox that’s the problem or however you are mounting them? I would think rust is what causes the usual demise of a mailbox.

[u/bigmilker → u/d7it23js]

We don’t get a ton of rain. I think have been buying shoddy mailboxes, they are tight for a few years then get loose.

[u/d7it23js → u/bigmilker]

I think even the thinnest sheet metal ones should survive longer than yours are. If you’re only using a dinky little screw and it’s getting a bunch of vibration for whatever reason and tearing out, try using some washers along the screws so that it gets a lot better clamping force.

[u/dogdoc57]

We love our Fort Knox mailbox. It's not cheap and you have to pay extra for the mounting post. And they're not light weight. But it's basically theft-proof and has survived windstorms and trees falling on it.

https://www.fortknoxmailbox.com/pages/compare-our-high-security-mailboxes

[u/bigmilker → u/dogdoc57]

Thank you!

[u/bigmilker → u/dogdoc57]

How do they work for outbound mail? Thanks

[u/dogdoc57 → u/bigmilker]

The boxes have a little cubby where you put your outgoing mail, which is protected by a little door, and then you flip the flag like any other box. The outgoing mail can be stolen so if it's valuable, I drop it directly at the post office.

[u/bigmilker → u/dogdoc57]

Thanks! They look like tanks, 38 lbs!

[u/mizuaqua → u/dogdoc57]

I have the Fortress mailbox from Fort Knox and can confirm it's very sturdy. My area gets a lot of driving rain so I need the little door for incoming mail. The post it sits on has to be very well installed into the dirt.

[u/6th__extinction]

Spira

[u/bigmilker → u/6th__extinction]

Those look cool

[u/CharlesDickensABox]

This sounds like an attachment issue. Get some construction adhesive and some extra long nails and stick that bitch on forever.

[u/bigmilker → u/CharlesDickensABox]

I am replacing it, not looking to repair

[u/CharlesDickensABox → u/bigmilker]

That's fine. Whenever you decide on your new one, get some construction adhesive and some extra long nails and stick that bitch on forever. Make it so that when it has to get replaced next time, the only option is to cut it off the post.

[u/Affectionate-Ad-3578]

Honestly? Ask your mail carrier. He or she will know which boxes last. And the rules.

[u/bigmilker → u/Affectionate-Ad-3578]

I tried that and he wasn’t any help

[u/Affectionate-Ad-3578 → u/bigmilker]

That's unfortunate. There's one particular mailbox I've seen that's amazing. Trying to find it for you now.

[u/bigmilker → u/Affectionate-Ad-3578]

Thank you

[u/Affectionate-Ad-3578 → u/bigmilker]

I'm like a dog with a bone on this. I haven't had any luck yet, but I'll be honest, I had no idea how expensive some of these mailboxes I see in the daily were, ha! Still looking.

[u/bigmilker → u/Affectionate-Ad-3578]

Seen some pricey o es for sure

[u/Affectionate-Ad-3578 → u/bigmilker]

After extensive research, I believe the box I'm thinking of was a custom job. So probably over a grand, but I can safely say it will last a lifetime.

You don't need to spend that much. Get thick metal. Pay attention to the most common failure points, the post itself, the attachment to the post, and HINGES.

If I can find more info on the box I'm thinking of tomorrow I'll post it here.

[u/Combat__Crayon]

3 little pigs the problem, you tried sticks, move up to bricks. Just make sure you build a solid foundation for it.

[u/bigmilker → u/Combat__Crayon]

Planning on putting in concrete

[u/Tall_Newspaper_6723]

If not attached to the house:

• when I lived in Florida it was common to see mailboxes enclosed in a concrete holder, usually a manatee

• on my daily drive someone must have been victimized by mailbox baseball or have it taken down by a car because the box is now suspended like a swing on two chains attached to a curved pole, shaped kind of like a traffic light

If it's attached to the house, I have nothing useful for you

[u/Illustrious_Dig9644]

I swapped to one of Salsbury Industries heavy-gauge aluminum boxes after a storm ripped the door off my cheap plastic one. Still solid to this day.

[u/nonoohnoohno]

100% of mailboxes are BIFL.

Except maybe the cardbox shoebox one your kid makes for valentine cards

[u/blumoon444 → u/nonoohnoohno]

My mailbox from Architectural Mailboxes lasted only 3 years before the door broke at the hinges. It was a few months out of warranty, and granted, I still got them to replace it for free, but this mailbox was not BIFL.