_____Post R in..._____

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B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Final update...
The posts are in.
Ham posing with one of the posts. :)

I'm planning on burying some RR ties along my yard to slow down vehicles that slide or spin off the roadway. I've had four vehicles slide and/or spin off the road in the 9 years I've lived here. One took out a nice 20' hemlock and another smashed into the brick on my house.

They will not be set in concrete, only buried in the ground.
I need a depth that will slow down, but not totally stop a car.

I was thinking 18" above and below ground level.
Does this sound reasonable... shallower... deeper?
 
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R

Rike

Platinum Member
Oct 14, 2004
2,614
2
81
Seems reasonable. Are you thinking spaced out like traffic control poles or like a low wall?
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
have you talked to your local government what's legal?

You may be qualified as setting a boobie trap in this.
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
* Spaced out about 10'
* I don't need to kill someone by stopping them cold
* "Boobie trap"? I want them to break away, similar to a mail box post, but still slow the vehicle down.
By burying them shallow enough, they will simply lay over when hit by a car.

Does 18" deep sound like they'd be too solid to lay over?
 
W

woodie1

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2000
5,947
0
0
I think you should talk to your local officials - some places frown on this. I know it doesn't make sense. If they've no problem with your idea they might even be able to give you some guidelines or get you in touch with someone who can.
 
herm0016

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,516
1,128
126
i would say 20 to 24 inches if you are in a climate that may freeze or if you have softer soil. think about the amount of leverage pushing on the top of the post. how tall are the posts going to be?
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
If the local government doesn't want the poles just make a fence that happens to use rail road ties as the fence posts.
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
I think I'm going to hold to the mailbox structure spec. of a 4x4 size.
Now I need to find some 4x4 black locust posts.
They are very strong (stronger that treated), and can last decades.
Something like 18" above ground, buried 24".
 
M

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,444
27
91
Nah.......get yourself some 6" x 6" x 8' landscaping timbers, bury them 5' deep in your yard (8" hole auger should do the trick). Then drill a 1" hole through them, horizontally, and string a 5/8" diameter steel cable down the line. Someone hits that, they'd have to tear the entire network out of the ground to get past it! ;)
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
then make sure you homeowners insurance is up to date if you haven't cleared this with the local gov.

 
SparkyJJO

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
Originally posted by: marvdmartian
Nah.......get yourself some 6" x 6" x 8' landscaping timbers, bury them 5' deep in your yard (8" hole auger should do the trick). Then drill a 1" hole through them, horizontally, and string a 5/8" diameter steel cable down the line. Someone hits that, they'd have to tear the entire network out of the ground to get past it! ;)
Click to expand...

Also put some nice white boards on the outside face to make it look like a simple nice white fence :D
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
I ended up buying some 4x6 treated timbers, ripping them down one side to a full 4" width.
So they end up as 3 1/2" x 4".
 
boomerang

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
I was going to sugggest a moat, but I can see you're off to the races.

Good luck, you may need it.
 
T

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
I know a guy around here who built a fence around his yard with concrete-filled posts. Stopped the kids driving through his yard like that, by the second or third totalled car.

I agree with the posters that you need to do more than just put them up, but don't ask for permission. Go to your local county planning office and say "I want to put up concrete fencing on my property. What do I need and do I need to submit plans?
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
The 3 1/2" x 4" posts are in...
24" above ground and 24" below ground.

I would have cut treated 6x6's down to a full 4"x 4", but there would be too much wasted lumber. By ripping down 4x6's, I only lost a little to waste.
 
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amish

amish

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
4,295
6
81
Originally posted by: Blain

The 3 1/2" x 4" posts are in...
24" above ground and 24" below ground.

I would have cut treated 6x6's down to a full 4"x 4", but there would be too much wasted lumber. By ripping down 4x6's, I only lost a little to waste.
Click to expand...

WTF is up with the last pic???
 
amish

amish

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
4,295
6
81
the third pic. looks like a nasty case of crotch rot but in your armpit or something.
 
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