Tips for Renting Portable, Trailered Compressors

When you need a compressor, nothing else will do. We spoke with two industry professionals to give you the information you need to get the most value when renting a portable, trailered compressor. Our experts were Jerel Cole, senior product manager, Hitachi Global Air Power, which includes the Sullair brand, and Eric Rabb, product specialist, Bobcat Co.

Who Rents Compressors and Why

Compressor rentals follow the rental norm: a customer needs something for a job but doesn’t need it often enough to justify owning. This applies to compressors in the same way as it does skid steers, excavators … even personnel. Note: if your applications require a specially configured compressor, such as one with high pressure and high volume, that skews the choice toward owning since specialty configurations are often not available for rent.

For applications, jackhammers are the first thing to come to mind. Other common applications include blow-out of irrigation systems at the end of the season, cleaning cracks and crevices prior to applying sealant or emulsion, well drilling, material applications such as shotcrete and gunite and blasting with media including sand, beads and dry ice. Cole mentions two specialty water applications. One is the formation of a bubble curtain to protect aquatic life from noise and debris, such as during pile driving. A ring is laid on the floor of the body of water, and compressed air is delivered to it. The other is to prevent ice damming when working in water in subfreezing conditions by creating some turbulence in the water via compressed air.

Sizes of Portable Compressors and Rental Costs

Bobcat has trailered compressors varying in size from 80 to 365 psig (see the sidebar below on units) and 185 to 1,600 cfm. Rabb says the PA185 is Bobcat’s most popular model, followed by the PA425 (model numbers indicate cfm). Hitachi Global Air Power groups its Sullair portable air compressors into four application groups. Numbers in parentheses are the most popular sizes in that category: small up to 185 cfm (185), medium from 260 to 425 cfm (375), mid-range from 650 to 900 cfm (900) and large from greater than 900 up to 1,600 cfm (1600).

Costs vary widely depending on region and market, but Rabb says “a couple hundred dollars a day is a good average.” You can minimize costs by getting everything you need up front from one source: compressor, hoses and hose reels (50- and 100-ft are common lengths), tools and accessories such as fluids and blast media, as appropriate. Include air treatment systems if your application needs them (see the sidebar at the bottom of this post on clean air).

Costs can also be controlled by knowing exactly what size compressor you need and renting the appropriate model, but Rabb cautions against renting less than you need, which only increases frustration and reduces productivity. Know how many tools will be attached at one time and the air requirements of each. Factor in hose length, number of connectors and other things that affect air volume and pressure at the tool, and rent the next size up to provide a performance cushion in case you need it.

If you’re running a diesel compressor in cold conditions, find out what cold-start aids are provided. Most common are glow plugs and block heaters.

Handling and Placing Rentable Compressors

The “portable, trailered” qualification for these compressors means you’re going to be moving them. Make sure your tow vehicle is up to the task. If the trailer has brakes, will your tow vehicle work with them? Know the effect of the compressor on handling and braking distance. Make sure the trailer lights are operating. Check the dimensions, including the weight, of the compressor against restrictions on your route, and don’t forget to check them against site restrictions. Again, this includes weight. Trench sites will have limits on surcharge, the amount of weight allowed on the soil near trenches.

Speaking of trenches, compressors are often placed in them, or on bridges, embankments and a host of other locations where you can’t simply drive up, unhitch the compressor and drive away. You’ll need a crane or excavator to connect to the compressor’s lift eye(s) in order to get it into the desired position. Some manufacturers offer trailered compressors without running gear so that the compressor itself can be mounted on the customer’s trailer.

Compressor Insights from Experts

Eric Rabb, Bobcat

“Safety is paramount.” Rabb says as long as the compressor is running, there are risks that must be managed. Do a complete walkaround of the machine when it is first brought on site, at the beginning of each use and periodically throughout the shift. Check key components for wear. Check fuel and fluid levels. Make sure nothing is inside the compressor that shouldn’t be. Some equipment has an inherent fail-safe mode. For example, de-tracking a compact track loader is frustrating and requires immediate attention, but the risk of physical injury to the operator or nearby personnel is very low. If a pressurized line fails, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic. Rabb recommends a complete external review of the compressor to check hoses, known as a whip check. This will prevent the hose from “whipping” around should the connection fail or a hose is accidentally cut on site.

Jerel Cole, Hitachi Global Air Power/Sullair

“The dynamics of the industry are changing and while diesel remains popular, there has been an influx of electric models.” These are corded models, not battery. Advantages include a longer uninterrupted run time because there’s no need to refuel (diesels typically get eight to 10 hours of runtime between refueling), lower noise, zero site emissions and lower overall cost of operation. “Customers tend to think of electric models for indoor applications, but really anywhere either diesel or electric would work, electric is probably the better choice.” The Sullair E1035 is fully weather protected for placement outdoors. “Diesel is here to stay for the foreseeable future, but customers should know that electric models offer distinct advantages that may be beneficial to their operations.”

Richard Ries is a freelance writer for Compact Equipment.