Compaction Equipment · Arlington, TX
What Do I Rent to Compact Dirt Before Pouring Concrete?
Family owned since 1959 · 1010 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012
Quick Answer
Moore Rental Service in Arlington, TX rents a vibratory plate compactor for $90 per day and a gas LT5005 jumping jack rammer for $85, plus an air tamper at $30 and a hand tamper at $10. Use the plate for base rock and the rammer for clay. Call (817) 277-1141.
- Vibratory Plate Compactor
- $90 / day • $320 / week
- Jumping Jack Rammer
- $85 / day • $335 / week
- Air Tamper
- $30 / day • $90 / week
- Hand Tamper
- $10 / day • $30 / week
A vibratory plate compactor at $90 a day and an LT5005 jumping jack rammer at $85 — the difference between a slab that lasts and one that cracks along a settled seam.
Plate Compactor or Jumping Jack?
They look like they do the same job and they do not, and choosing wrong is the most common reason a DIY slab or paver patio settles.
The vibratory plate compactor at $90 a day works by high-frequency vibration across a wide flat plate. Vibration is what settles granular material — crushed stone, base rock, sand, gravel — by shaking the particles into tight contact with each other. Use it under paver patios, driveways, sidewalks and any slab where you have brought in a proper stone base. It covers ground quickly and leaves a flat, even surface.
The jumping jack rammer (the gas LT5005) at $85 a day works by impact: a narrow foot pounding down hard, repeatedly. Impact is what compacts cohesive soil — clay, silt, mixed fill — because vibration alone barely moves clay at all. It is also the only practical choice for narrow trenches, since the foot fits where a wide plate cannot.
The North Texas rule of thumb: our native soil is heavy clay, so if you are compacting native ground or backfilling a trench, take the rammer. If you have brought in crushed stone base over the top, take the plate. On a job that involves both — trench backfill and then a stone base — you genuinely need both, and at $175 for the pair for a day that is still cheap next to a cracked slab.
Doing It Properly: Lifts, Moisture and Passes
Compact in lifts
Never dump two feet of fill and try to compact it. Work in 4 to 6 inch layers, compacting each fully before adding the next. Compaction energy simply does not reach the bottom of a deep lift, and that untouched layer is where settlement comes from.
Moisture matters more than passes
Soil compacts best slightly damp — enough to hold together when squeezed, not enough to glisten. Bone-dry clay will not compact no matter how many passes you make. Saturated clay just pumps and smears.
Overlap your passes
Three to four passes over each area, overlapping each pass by a third, changing direction between passes. When the machine stops sinking and starts riding on the surface, that area is done.
Base depth guidance for DFW clay: about 4 inches of compacted crushed stone under a paver patio, 6 inches under a driveway that will carry vehicles. Skimping here is the false economy that shows up as a dip or a crack two summers later.
Safety and Handling
- These machines are heavy and awkward to load. The plate compactor and the rammer both need two people or a ramp to get in and out of a truck. Do not attempt it solo.
- The jumping jack wants to walk away from you. It genuinely hops. Keep a firm grip, stay behind it, and keep your feet clear of the foot. Boots, always.
- Hearing protection is not optional. Both machines are loud enough to cause damage over a working day, and the rammer especially so.
- Never compact over utilities you have just backfilled without knowing the depth. A rammer transmits serious force downward and will damage shallow conduit or pipe.
- Keep it off finished concrete. A plate compactor on a cured slab will mark it. If you are compacting right up against existing concrete, work carefully at the edge.
- Take the week for anything over three days. The plate is $320 weekly against $90 daily, and the rammer $335 against $85, so four or more days should be booked as a week.
Equipment & Rental Rates
| Equipment | 4 Hour | Daily | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
COMPACTOR VIBRATORY PLATE
|
$60.00 | $90.00 | $320.00 |
TAMPER-GAS LT5005 RAMMER
|
$65.00 | $85.00 | $335.00 |
| COMPACTOR AIR TAMPER | — | $30.00 | $90.00 |
| COMPACTOR HAND TAMPER | $7.50 | $10.00 | $30.00 |
TRENCHER DITCH WITCH C16X TRACK
|
$125.00 | $185.00 | $740.00 |
Rates shown are from the Moore Rental Service catalog and are subject to change. Tax, damage waiver and delivery are not included. Call (817) 277-1141 to confirm current pricing and availability.
Where We Rent: Arlington and the Surrounding DFW Cities
Moore Rental Service has operated from 1010 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012 as a family-owned business since 1959. Customers pick up equipment here and put it to work across Arlington, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, North Richland Hills and Fort Worth, along with the surrounding Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Arlington, TX
- Mansfield, TX
- Grand Prairie, TX
- Hurst, TX
- Euless, TX
- Bedford, TX
- North Richland Hills, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
Store Hours
How Renting From Moore Rental Service Works
Call and Reserve
Tell us what the job is, not just what machine you think you need. Call (817) 277-1141 and we will confirm availability and hold the equipment for your date.
Pick Up or Have It Delivered
Come by 1010 W. Division St. in Arlington, or ask about delivery. Every renter gets a full walkthrough of the controls, safe operation and shutdown before leaving.
Get the Job Done
Rent by the two-hour block, four-hour block, day or week, whichever fits the work. Questions mid-job? Call us — we would rather answer than have you guess.
Bring It Back
Return the equipment during store hours and you are done. No membership, no subscription, no long-term commitment.
Renting a Plate Compactor in Arlington — Frequently Asked Questions
What do I use to compact soil before pouring concrete?
A vibratory plate compactor at $90 per day for crushed stone and granular base, or a jumping jack rammer at $85 per day for clay, silt and trench backfill. In North Texas, native soil is clay, so most jobs that touch native ground want the rammer.
What is the difference between a plate compactor and a jumping jack?
A plate compactor vibrates across a wide flat plate, which settles granular materials like stone and sand. A jumping jack delivers hard impacts through a narrow foot, which is what compacts cohesive clay soil and what fits inside a trench. Vibration barely moves clay at all.
How deep should a compacted base be under a patio?
For DFW clay, plan on roughly 4 inches of compacted crushed stone under a paver patio and 6 inches under a driveway carrying vehicles. Build it up in 4 to 6 inch lifts and compact each layer fully before adding the next.
How many passes does compaction take?
Three to four passes over each area, overlapping by about a third and changing direction between passes. The practical test is behavior rather than count: when the machine stops sinking in and starts riding on the surface, that section is compacted.
Does the soil need to be wet to compact properly?
Slightly damp is ideal — enough that a handful holds together when squeezed but does not glisten. Bone-dry clay will not compact regardless of how many passes you make, and saturated clay pumps and smears instead of consolidating.
Can one person load a plate compactor into a truck?
Not safely. Both the plate compactor and the rammer are heavy and awkward, and both need two people or a proper ramp. Bring help, or ask about delivery when you call (817) 277-1141.
Related Rentals
Ready to Reserve?
Call Moore Rental Service and talk to someone who knows the equipment. We have been renting to homeowners, contractors and event hosts across Arlington and the DFW Metroplex since 1959 — tell us about the job and we will make sure you leave with the right gear.
Equipment Rental by City
Everything Moore Rental Service stocks, listed for each city in the Dallas / Fort Worth service area.
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