[rrental]

I carry both the Jumping Jacks and the vibrating plate compactors in our rental fleet. They both compact (obviously) but with different purposes. The jumping jack is suitable for compacting trenches, compact areas etc.

single-way Vibrating plate compactors are a smaller plate compactor for compacting sand, gravel etc. Keep in mind you will only be able to penetrate the soil a few inches. Make sure you compact often between the layers of back fill.

The reverse plate compactors are larger machines (300 - 1000 lbs) and will compact deeper and denser.

For jumping jacks we used to carry the 2-stroke Wackers, but have switched to the Weber 4 stroke. Great machines. You will be able to find lots of used Wackers (green machines) as the new trend is the 4 stroke units. the Wacker is a b.tch to start, (2-stroke) but well build and durable.

The small plate compactors we rent range from 125 Lbs (small jobs retaining walls etc) to 300 Lbs. This is the own weight of the machine, with a tamping force of 2500-6000 lbs. DO NOT buy a unit from the discount store. They will be useless. If you want to buy, get a used one from a rental yard, and sell it when the job is done. Good brands are MBW, Wacker, Weber, Dynapac, MQ/multiquip.

Reverse plates is a different beast. Ranging from 300lbs to 1000lbs, either diesel or gas. Price new goes from $5000 up to $15000 for a diesel 1000 lbs.