How to Choose the Right Rammer Rental for Soil Compaction

Does your jobsite need a small, powerful tool to compact soil quickly? Rammers are built for this work. They are lightweight machines you can steer by hand yet deliver strong force to compress soil. You’ll want to rent a rammer for road repair, trench work, foundations, and any job that needs solid, level ground.

How Rammers Work

A rammer is a soil compaction tool powered by gas, diesel, or electricity. It drives a plate up and down, striking the ground up 750 times per minute. This creates strong impact in a small area. Most rammers weigh 75 to 120 pounds, which means one worker can operate them.

Types of Rammers You Can Rent

2-Cycle rammers: These models use a two-stroke engine with a simple, powerful design. They deliver more blows per minute and have the longest shoe stroke, which means the compaction plate travels farther with each strike. This deeper impact helps maintain performance at high elevations, where engine power can drop due to thinner air. 

4-Cycle rammers: The most common type on jobsites, these rammers run on gasoline. Many are powered by the reliable Honda GX100 engine. The main drawback is 4-cycle rammers may lose power at higher elevations because they rely on air intake for combustion.

Battery rammers: These electric units produce no emissions, so they’re ideal for tight or indoor areas with poor ventilation. They are quiet, which makes them useful near hospitals, schools, or offices. Battery rammers provide the same compaction force as gas models but with less vibration, lower strain on workers, and easy push-button starts. They also require little to no maintenance.

How to Choose the Right Rammer

For most jobs, a 4-cycle rammer is the best choice. It’s efficient, reliable, and meets today’s emission standards. Because it lubricates through the crankcase instead of burning oil, it runs cleaner and avoids fuel buildup.

However, other options may be better in certain cases:

• Choose a 2-cycle rammer for high elevations where it performs more reliably.
• Choose a battery rammer to cut fuel use, reduce noise, and protect the environment without losing performance.

Also think about the brand. Choosing a trusted name like Wacker Neuson, Multiquip, or Weber  means you get safe, reliable equipment.

Rent Rammers from The Cat^® Rental Store

For most construction businesses, renting is the most cost-effective way to get the right rammer. The Cat^® Rental Store carries high-quality soil compaction tools from trusted brands. You can rent for a day, week, month, or longer. Our team will help you choose the right size and weight class for your job.

Browse our full selection of rammers and other compaction equipment.

Find a Cat Rental Store location near you or request a quick quote.

Rammer FAQs

Q: What does a rammer do?

A: A rammer compacts soil with rapid, high-impact blows, making ground stable for construction.

Q: Which rammer type is best for most jobs?

A: Most contractors prefer 4-cycle rammers because they are efficient and reliable.

Q: Where should I use a battery-powered rammer?

A: Battery rammers are best in tight spaces, indoors, or near places sensitive to noise and emissions.

Q: Why rent instead of buy?

A: Renting saves money, avoids maintenance costs, and lets you try different models before buying.