We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Installing a mailbox is quite the project. You need to purchase the mailbox and a compatible post, dig a hole, mix the concrete, and then pour it into the hole. Set the post in the concrete, and if not already attached, install the mailbox once the concrete has cured. But what if pouring concrete was optional, and the process was as easy as an all-in-one kit that screws together with your bare hands? The Mailbox-to-Go Post Kit from Architectural Mailboxes offers just that. I recently installed the Mailbox-to-Go kit at my home. See my honest review of whether this was an easy DIY project or not, and how the overall installation process went.
I bought a house that did not have a mailbox, so it was up to me to install one. There were far more options available than I anticipated, and I wasn’t sure which mailbox I wanted long-term. I knew I needed to have a mailbox in place as quickly as possible. But could a quick, easy, and cheap mailbox kit actually work? I decided to find out. I figured I could always upgrade my mailbox and landscaping later, and at least this would get my mail to me in the meantime.
The Mailbox-to-Go Post Kit from Architectural Mailboxes has everything you need in one box. The only tool I truly needed was a large shovel. However, I’d recommend a tape measure to make sure your mailbox stands at the USPS-recommended height of 41 to 45 inches. The mailbox kit instructions state that the tools required are a post digger, screwdriver, level, and wrench, with concrete listed as “recommended.” If you have those tools, they may improve the assembly process for you, so don’t hesitate to use them. But if you don’t, you can still successfully assemble this mailbox kit. While I did have access to those tools, I wanted to test out if this mailbox could be installed with as few as possible.
The two pieces of the post slide together easily; just be sure the end with the holes is at the top, and the spiked end is at the bottom. The brackets simply screw onto the metal post with bolts and nuts. The mailbox is then screwed onto those brackets with more of the same bolts and nuts. I was able to assemble the whole thing with my bare hands.
Getting the mailbox post into the ground required digging a hole. I attempted to simply stab the post into the ground to see if it was possible without tools, but the roots of the grass were too thick and stubborn. I resorted to using a shovel to dig a hole, placing the mailbox post in it at the USPS-recommended height, and backfilling with dirt. That worked. The post was sturdy with minimal sway when opening and closing the mailbox door.
However, I found that the bracket assembly used to attach the mailbox to the metal post needs improvement. While the post in the ground was sturdy, the mailbox itself wobbles when being opened or closed. I pulled out my tools and did everything in my power to tighten the bolts and nuts I had installed by hand. Tools made zero difference; the bolts were already in place as tight as they could go. The mailbox won’t fall off, but because of the wobbling, it doesn’t feel as secure as it should.
I had hoped that the Mailbox-to-Go Post Kit from Architectural Mailboxes would turn out to be a decent long-term solution. After installing it, I predict that I will only be able to endure my mailbox having an annoying wobble for a few years at most. But that will buy me time to decide what I want long-term, so the small price expended to expedite getting my mail at my new home was worth it.
