Plate
compactor
rental
Wacker Neuson WP1550AWN, Multiquip MVC82VH or similar. The walk behind plate for base under pavers, footings and trench backfill. Light enough to collect from the yard yourself and cheap enough to keep for the week.
Rates don't include delivery, the 15% damage waiver or tax. See your out-the-door price with a quick quote.
Everything you build sits on the base
Paver base, footing bottoms and trench backfill all settle if they are not compacted. Settlement shows up months later as a dipped patio or a cracked slab, and by then the fix costs far more than the rental.
A plate compactor works in lifts. Spread a few inches of material, run the plate over it in overlapping passes, then add the next lift and repeat.
It is one of the lowest priced machines we rent, and at $275 for the week most crews just keep it for the duration of the job.
Rent it for base and backfill
- Paver and flagstone base
- Footing bottoms
- Trench backfill in lifts
- Decomposed granite paths
- Shed and slab prep
- Asphalt patch compaction
Wacker Neuson WP1550AWN, Multiquip MVC82VH or similar
Model level specs| Class listing | Walk behind forward plate compactor |
|---|---|
| Makes and models | Wacker Neuson WP1550AWN, Multiquip MVC82VH or similar |
| Plate size | 20 in |
| Operating weight | 175 lb on the Multiquip, 190 lb on the Wacker Neuson |
| Engine | Honda GX160 gas, 5.5 HP |
| Compaction force | 3,080 lbf on the Multiquip, 3,375 lbf on the Wacker Neuson |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Transport | Fits in a pickup bed with 2 people to load |
Which term to book
At $55/day and $275/week, the week costs the same as 5 days. Because the machine is cheap and the job usually stretches, most bookings are weekly.
The 4-week rate of $500 is under 2 weeks of day rate, which is why longer landscape and hardscape jobs take the month.
Included with every rental
- A current annual inspection, with the operator manual riding in the machine
- A full function check before it leaves the yard, so nothing surprises you on site
- A phone number that reaches the yard directly rather than a call center
Will it fit? 4 things decide it
Measure before you bookGetting it home
It fits in a pickup bed, but it is awkward and heavy enough to need 2 people and a ramp. Do not try to lift it alone.
Working width
A plate only compacts what it covers, so measure your trench or your base area and check the plate will actually fit into it.
Lift thickness
Compact in lifts of a few inches, not all at once. A thick lift compacts on top and stays loose underneath, which is the same as not compacting at all.
Surface type
Forward plates are for granular material. Sand, gravel and decomposed granite compact well, heavy clay much less so.
Wacker Neuson WP1550AWN, Multiquip MVC82VH or similar. They do the same job, so we match one at dispatch.
Water the base lightly before you compact granular material. Slightly damp compacts far better than bone dry, which matters in Phoenix.
Pickup or delivery
This is a warehouse pickup item, so there is no delivery tier assigned to it and no delivery is required. Collect it from the yard and take it in a truck.
If you would rather we brought it, call and we will price the run. It often makes sense to add it to a delivery you already have booked.
Using it safely
A plate compactor is simple to run, but it is heavy, hot and it vibrates hard. Most injuries come from handling it rather than operating it.
- 2 people to load and unload, with a ramp. Never lift it into a truck bed alone.
- Hearing protection and safety boots. These machines are loud and they will break a foot.
- Keep hands and feet clear of the plate edge while the engine is running.
- Let the exhaust and the engine cool before loading it back into a vehicle.
- Never run it inside an enclosed space, because the exhaust is dangerous indoors.
Work out the estimate total
Put in the ZIP the machine is going to and how long you need it. The delivery band and the estimate total come back straight away, waiver, fuel and tax included.
| Rental, 1 day | — |
|---|---|
| Damage waiver, 15% | — |
| Prepaid fuel | — |
| Delivery out, enter a ZIP | — |
| Pickup back | — |
| Sales tax, 9.1% | — |
| Estimate total | — |
About this figure. The total carries the 15% damage waiver, prepaid fuel and 9.1% sales tax. This is an estimate rather than a quote, and we confirm the band from the full address before anything is booked.
Pickup or delivery
This machine is light enough to collect from the yard yourself, so delivery is optional rather than required, and you will need a vehicle and tie downs that suit the weight.
If you would rather we brought it out to you, call the yard and we will price the run to your address before you book.
Pick it up from the yard during store hours, Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and bring it back during store hours on the return date.
Where we deliver
Common questions
How thick a layer can a plate compactor handle?
A few inches at a time. Compacting a thick lift firms the surface and leaves the bottom loose, which is worse than useless because it looks done.
Can I fit a plate compactor in a pickup?
Yes, with 2 people and a ramp. It is the sort of thing people hurt their backs on, so plan the loading rather than improvising it.
Do I need to wet the base first?
Lightly, yes. Granular material compacts much better slightly damp than bone dry, which matters more here than almost anywhere.
Will it work on clay?
Not well. Forward plates are designed for granular material. Heavy clay wants a rammer or a roller instead.
Related equipment
All compactorsReady to book?
You can reserve it online in about 2 min, or call the yard and we will put it straight onto the schedule.
Or talk to a Summit representative
Tell us the job, the access route and the ground conditions, and we will tell you whether this is the right machine before you pay for it.
Call (602) 900-1845