Metal or plastic mailbox

[WhyMe]

time to replace mine as its worn out . covered in moss and needs paint. just gonna buy a new one. So the old one is metal. thinking of getting a polymer one. i think it would last better than the metal ones in the PNW rain and wet.

i don't want to spend too much on a mailbox . So how well do the polymer ones hold up. i am wondering if they warp over time

 

[Silverado12]

They hold up well. I've had one for over 10 years and it held up to the hot Virginia sun w/o any issues. Also waterproof. We had a metal one and the plastic is a lot better IMO.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Working on 15 years on ours. It is a Rubbermaid brand (which may not be available today). Replaced an old metal one damaged by a flying pumpkin. Have repaired the mailbox door hinge once. No major warpage.

 

[mrsilv04]

I have 22 years of use on one of these, in grey.

https://www.step2.com/p/mailmaster-plus-mailbox

They slip over a treated 4x4 post.

I thought it was a bit pricey when I bought it, but now.. 22 years later... I'd buy another one without a second thought.

 

[chainblu]

I had a plastic mailbox once when I lived in North Carolina. It was fine for what it was. However, one sub-freezing night, some 'kids' (I lived near a university) decided to get their jollies by riding around with a Louisville Slugger. The next morning the box was in pieces on the ground. LOL That was my last plastic mailbox.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

You still get Mail?!

 

[NormanBuntz]

I prefer the powder coated steel mailboxes made by Gibraltar, available on Amazon from $20 to $45.

 

[ediamiam]

I went metal because I wanted one that could lock. Too many instances where I hear about mail disappearing

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: chainblu
I had a plastic mailbox once when I lived in North Carolina. It was fine for what it was. However, one sub-freezing night, some 'kids' (I lived near a university) decided to get their jollies by riding around with a Louisville Slugger. The next morning the box was in pieces on the ground. LOL That was my last plastic mailbox.


Louisville Sluggers will flatten a steel mailbox also. Either the metal or the plastic will need to be replaced.

 

[Oldtom]

My metal mailbox has survived multiple baseball ball attacks. I just tap out the dent with a mallet and wood block. Around here, the fools just drive by and swing the bat from a moving car. Some folks put black painted T type fence posts on either side of the mailbox for protection.

 

[mx5miata]

plastic will be good for life - if its a slip over sleeve than the 4x4 post will just need replacing when rotted.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

I assume your referring to a mailbox at the road and not attached to the house.

I recently replaced my 'metal' box with another metal box (at the road).
I ordered it online thru Home Depot and it's .030" thick, not .020"
Edit: .030" can still be vandalized, but nicer for normal use.

I always thought the plastic ones look to bulky.

My suggestion:
1) Get some large reflective numbers and put them on both sides of the box.
Edit: Put the numbers on while the flag is DOWN.
2) Go online USPS.gov and sign up for Informed Delivery
https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action

 

[ET16]

I have a plastic Rubbermaid one that's fine.

The ones that I don't like are the big one-piece ones that look like they go with a Playmobil set.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: Oldtom
My metal mailbox has survived multiple baseball ball attacks. I just tap out the dent with a mallet and wood block. Around here, the fools just drive by and swing the bat from a moving car. Some folks put black painted T type fence posts on either side of the mailbox for protection.


Ball attacks are quite different than Louisville Slugger bat attacks.

 

[chainblu]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Louisville Sluggers will flatten a steel mailbox also. Either the metal or the plastic will need to be replaced.


LOL

Yes, that's true. But like someone said, you could reshape a metal one for temporary use. In my case, I had to put up a replacement that day if I wanted mail, that day.