Any tips to remove mailbox pole?

[markholst]

Get a truck rim and place it right upright against the post. Place a chain over the rim and hook to the bottom of the post. Get your vehicle out in the road and pull the chain. The chain will pull up on the post as well as away from the rim and the post will come out of the ground. This works on shrubs too.

Hmmmm....if only I could get my truck to drive on three wheels...

Seriously though, great suggestion, just not feasible for me. Wonder if I have something else that would work instead of the wheel. Gonna have to look.

 

[Rookie]

A log?

 

[femurphy77]

Hmmmm....if only I could get my truck to drive on three wheels...

Seriously though, great suggestion, just not feasible for me. Wonder if I have something else that would work instead of the wheel. Gonna have to look.

We went with something similar but instead of a truck rim we used a 6' long 4x4. We pulled about 20 8" wooden posts out of the ground a few years ago this way. You'll need a helper, throw several wraps of chain around the post at ground level, have your helper hold the chain over the top of the post which is used as your fulcrum. The 4x4 should be about 6' from the post angling towards the post at about a 30-45 degree angle, chain from around the post up over the 4x4 and to your truck, you'll need about 20' of chain to do this. It won't work if the ground is soft and you'll need to exercise caution as your helper will have to steady the 4x4 so it doesn't lay over to one side or the other but it works quite well.

 

[tmschuller]

Shubery

Get a truck rim and place it right upright against the post. Place a chain over the rim and hook to the bottom of the post. Get your vehicle out in the road and pull the chain. The chain will pull up on the post as well as away from the rim and the post will come out of the ground. This works on shrubs too.

SHUBERY!!!—or use a herring-anyone...

 

[patience0830]

BRING ME. . .A SHRUBBERY!!!—or use a herring-anyone...

FTFY

 

[patience0830]

We went with something similar but instead of a truck rim we used a 6' long 4x4. We pulled about 20 8" wooden posts out of the ground a few years ago this way. You'll need a helper, throw several wraps of chain around the post at ground level, have your helper hold the chain over the top of the post which is used as your fulcrum. The 4x4 should be about 6' from the post angling towards the post at about a 30-45 degree angle, chain from around the post up over the 4x4 and to your truck, you'll need about 20' of chain to do this. It won't work if the ground is soft and you'll need to exercise caution as your helper will have to steady the 4x4 so it doesn't lay over to one side or the other but it works quite well.

Build a small A-frame from 4x4s and the helper has a much easier job. Won't fall left or right.

 

[femurphy77]

Build a small A-frame from 4x4s and the helper has a much easier job. Won't fall left or right.

Even better!

 

[markholst]

We went with something similar but instead of a truck rim we used a 6' long 4x4. We pulled about 20 8" wooden posts out of the ground a few years ago this way. You'll need a helper, throw several wraps of chain around the post at ground level, have your helper hold the chain over the top of the post which is used as your fulcrum. The 4x4 should be about 6' from the post angling towards the post at about a 30-45 degree angle, chain from around the post up over the 4x4 and to your truck, you'll need about 20' of chain to do this. It won't work if the ground is soft and you'll need to exercise caution as your helper will have to steady the 4x4 so it doesn't lay over to one side or the other but it works quite well.

If I can wait until the ground hardens, this might be my method. Thanks murphy!

 

[amboy49]

Get a truck rim and place it right upright against the post. Place a chain over the rim and hook to the bottom of the post. Get your vehicle out in the road and pull the chain. The chain will pull up on the post as well as away from the rim and the post will come out of the ground. This works on shrubs too.

I saw a video using this method only they use the rim with a tire mounted and inflated. Probably easy find with a Google search. Good luck !

A lot depends on whether cement was used to set the post. If so, pulling the post becomes a lot more difficult.

 

[markholst]

I saw a video using this method only they use the rim with a tire mounted and inflated. Probably easy find with a Google search. Good luck !

A lot depends on whether cement was used to set the post. If so, pulling the post becomes a lot more difficult.

I have no idea if it is cemented in. I inherited it with the house. I'm praying it isn't, but given the fact the original person thought enough to put a 3/16" steel shroud around the box, it is a good possibility they cemented it.

 

[1DOWN4UP]

I kinda remember my late father using a tool that was specially designed for such a project.I seen it when I was a very small child.I saw it in use once,but my father always did the work of two men.I assume it takes two men who both held a wooden handle each,and at the same time,jab the ground,and pull away from each other,lift at the same time,drop dirt to side,and repeat.I kind of remember it but it was along time ago,

 

[Mgderf]

Or were you referring to the actual thread post? What do you mean by "quality" post?

Beware the pitfalls of quality posts.
Many should be buried...

www.qualitypostholes.com/gallery

BTW-This is not a quality post.

 

[Mgderf]

I kinda remember my late father using a tool that was specially designed for such a project.I seen it when I was a very small child.I saw it in use once,but my father always did the work of two men.I assume it takes two men who both held a wooden handle each,and at the same time,jab the ground,and pull away from each other,lift at the same time,drop dirt to side,and repeat.I kind of remember it but it was along time ago,

This method requires a P.H.D.

 

[jkfletcher]

Did you try turning it off and back on again? Or putting it in a large bowl of uncoiled rice?

 

[patience0830]

I kinda remember my late father using a tool that was specially designed for such a project.I seen it when I was a very small child.I saw it in use once,but my father always did the work of two men.I assume it takes two men who both held a wooden handle each,and at the same time,jab the ground,and pull away from each other,lift at the same time,drop dirt to side,and repeat.I kind of remember it but it was along time ago,

Believe it or not, i have such a tool. 'Twas indeed, designed for one man to use and , as we have 2 hands , it has 2 handles. It is preferred by old men and Luddites such as myself. It is a fair amount more work than most keyboard commanders are capable of. Particularly on dry days in the summer.

 

[Alamo]

... It is preferred by old men and Luddites such as myself...

You say that as if they are separate things...

 

[natdscott]

Dude.

You're in Russiaville.

Call the local-est farmer, introduce yourself, and ask what it would require for them to bring a 40-400 hp tractor down there and pull it out. It takes longer to hook the chain to the post than it does pull it out.

-Nate

 

[Old Dog]

Make a lever with a couple blocks, 4x4, and wrap a chain around the post.

This is my recommendation^^^, but I would add to set the lever up for you to push down on it. This will save your back and you can also stand on it that way. I used to pull fence posts this way until I rigged up a puller on my 3 point hitch on the tractor. Hydraulics are a wonderful thing!

 

[patience0830]

You say that as if they are separate things...

Quiet, you. . . Or you'll be invited to help run the aforementioned tool.

Thought we were friends.

 

[printcraft]

30' snatch strap
wrap it around the base
back your truck up to the post
hook up snatch strap
put it in low and floor it