Liberty Hardware APANCHR-HSG-U Vortex Mailbox Ground Anchor, Green

This works great! Not only was it easier than digging a 3-foot post-hole, I couldn't dig a post-hole for my mailbailbox. why? The electric company. the phone company (x2). the gas company. Apparently my street-side is like an underground utilities super-highway. The nature of this device meant I didn't have to dig a major hole, and it didn't have to go down too far (approx. 18 inches) to interfere with the aforementioned utilities. Also, the nature of the cork screw meant if I did near something I wouldn't be as likely to slice through it (with the shovel); put pressure on it (the post); and instead twist it to the side. I installed it while the ground was soft-ish (after a few fall rains and a snow, but no deep frost) and it went in relatively easily. I did actually dig the trench they recommend a little deeper so that the whole green bit was just underground. Also, when I installed the 4x4 I put it at an angle - so instead of the 4 corners being in the green uprights, the 4 sides were against the green uprights and then I shimmed them & leveled the post. All said, it took about an hour once I started the project. It looks really good and no one would ever know that I didn't dig the major hole. It's very secure as well. I thought it might be wishy-washy since it's not as deep as the post would be, but that hasn't proven to be the case. I would recommend this without reservation to anyone! One note - it doesn't include the hardware to install the post - you have to buy your own lugs (x8) and shims.

This giant screw does the job, but not well. It is difficult to screw it into the ground and make it perfectly level without it wobbling due to disturbing the soil as you screw it in the earth. I was able to install my mailbox post using this item, but it is not that secure. The mailbox post wobbles slightly. I foresee having to cement my post in the future, but this was a decent basic fix for short term use.

Works well even in our sandy rock ridden soil, I give it four stars because of the end result allowed a little more movement vs what I would have liked but it does beat digging a post hole for sure! I used two of these to hold up a row of 6 mailboxes and the end result is a working solution. These may work a bit better in "normal soil" but again even in our decomposed granite it is holding strong and I have a feeling it will be just fine. 4 stars because I think a product like this would be hard pressed to fully replace a post hole. Overall I would buy it again and do it all over for sure.

I used a long lead pipe and my father's help to make the last few revolutions really tight, after I did that it stays in perfectly. The instructions suggest digging a small circle and placing it in that... I would not recommend this...it prevents you from using a rigid stick to twist the apparatus further into the ground

This looked like a time saver, but unless you are screwing it into sand or pea gravel it is next to worthless. I tried it in a clay type dirt and even small rocks kept it from going in. I ended up digging a hole and setting it into concrete. After it set up I mounted the post and found that even set in concrete the post was wobbly. I will have to dig the whole thing out and put in a 4 x 4 post anyway. A big waste of time & money!

I knew that the soil under the surface was going to be a little hard, but I did not expect that the auger would simply drill a hole, instead of gripping. The installation of this device is more than a challenge for any application where the soil condition is other than near perfect. That means that you will probably have a MUCH better experience with light, sandy loam, or non-compacted, rock-free fill. Not only was the auger turning difficult, but ending up level is not anything you have a lot of control over. It was my experience that a post-hole digger and a 4x4 would have been a much easier and infinitely more predictable mailbox post solution.

This was so simple to install. We have relatively sandy soil on Cape Cod so it was pretty easy to get into the ground. I bought some 4" screws to keep the 4X4 post in place. Easy stuff.

The trick is to not follow the instructions, dig a hole and place the dirt on a tarp. Stop digging on when the hole is 4-5 feet deep. Remove rocks and other debris that will get in the way of the anchor. Place the anchor in the ground and adjust the dirt level accordingly so that the anchor is at street level. Remove the anchor and fill the hole with dirt, making sure that the dirt is well condensed. Turn the anchor in the area you filled until the anchor can stand without assistance. Use your shovel handle or crowbar as a lever to keep the anchor digging in the earth. Orient the post appropriately to the street. Not too bad, and the anchor wasn't moving anytime soon.