Portable Compressor Hire in Reading, Berkshire
Portable compressor hire in Reading suits a crew covering several addresses in one week, from Wokingham to Bracknell and back into town. Coppard’s towable and skid-mounted units hitch up fast and hold a steady air supply at the next job.
A portable compressor is built to travel, not just to run. Before booking, think about how often it moves in a week. Think too about whether it rides on a trailer or sits fixed on a flatbed between stops.
Count the Stops Before You Choose the Machine
A compressor moving to a new address every day or two needs to hitch and unhitch quickly. It should need no extra tools or a second pair of hands standing by. One sitting at a single site all week has more room to be bigger, since speed matters less once it is parked up for several days in one place. Work out your actual pattern for the week before booking, rather than assuming the biggest unit is always right.
A crew covering Wokingham one day and central Reading the next gets the most from a lighter towable unit. One person can connect it without waiting on help, since every stop costs time a heavier setup would eat into.
Towable Suits the Road, Skid-Mounted Suits the Site
See our other Air Compressor Supplier services on the Reading Air Compressor Supplier page, and compare towable against skid-mounted options on the Compressors page. Towable units hitch to a van or pickup and travel between addresses on their own wheels. That suits a crew driving between jobs through the day on a tight schedule. Skid-mounted units sit on a flatbed or trailer bed instead, which suits a site where the compressor stays put for the hire.
Not sure which fits your week? Phone 0118 979 2828 and describe your route stop by stop. The Reading team will point you to whichever type saves time on the road, rather than adding to it.
Confirm Your Vehicle Can Legally Tow What You Book
Every towable compressor has a stated weight, and your tow vehicle needs a rating that covers it with room to spare, not right up to the stated limit. Check your vehicle’s handbook or weight plate before booking, not after the unit has arrived at the depot. A mismatch means the compressor cannot legally leave behind your vehicle on the day it is due to go out.
Tell the Reading team your vehicle’s towing capacity when you enquire. They will confirm which units it can safely take, so there is no awkward moment once you are stood in the yard ready to collect and head off to the first stop of the day. This single check saves a wasted journey back to swap for a lighter unit.
Give the Depot Your Full Route, Not Just the First Stop
Tell the depot every address the compressor will visit during the hire, not only where it starts out. This changes how the booking is planned and when a swap or extension might be needed. A route running Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell across one week is common. Knowing the full pattern upfront means fewer surprise calls partway through the job.
Call 0118 979 2828 with your planned stops, and the team will confirm timing against each one. This includes any day where the compressor needs to be in two places, and a second unit might work out cheaper than shuttling one back and forth across the week. A full route booked in advance is also easier for the depot to fit around other customers.
Plans Shift Mid-Week; Say So as Soon as They Do
Jobs get added, cancelled or moved once a week is under way. A portable compressor booked for one route can often be redirected if you call early enough. Waiting until the planned day arrives to mention a change makes it far harder to fit in, since the depot may already have the next booking lined up behind yours. Phone 0118 979 2828 the moment your plans move, rather than hoping it works itself out.
A short call as soon as your plans change, even if the new address is only a short detour from the original route, gives the Reading team the best chance of keeping your hire on schedule without a gap in cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tow a portable compressor with a standard van?
It depends on the compressor’s weight and your van’s towing capacity, shown on its handbook or weight plate. Always check this before booking, not on collection day, since the compressor cannot legally leave if your vehicle is not rated to tow it safely. Phone 0118 979 2828 with your van’s towing figure and the depot will confirm which units it can safely take before you commit to a booking.
What licence do I need to tow a portable compressor?
Most towable compressors sit within the weight a standard car or van licence covers. This depends on both your licence category and the combined weight of your vehicle and the compressor together once hitched. Check the official guidance for your exact licence before booking, and tell the depot your vehicle and licence details if you are at all unsure how the figures stack up. This covers most car and van licences, but always check your own category against the combined weight before you assume it is covered.
Should I choose a towable or a skid-mounted compressor?
Towable suits a crew driving between several addresses through the week, since it hitches and unhitches quickly without extra kit on hand. Skid-mounted suits a site where the compressor stays in one place for the length of the job, since it sits fixed on a flatbed rather than its own wheels. Tell the depot your route and they will point you to the better fit for the week.
Can the compressor be redirected to a different site mid-hire?
Often yes, if you call the depot as soon as your plans change, rather than on the day itself when options are more limited. Give the new address and likely dates, and the team will confirm whether the existing booking can simply move, or whether a second unit makes more sense for an overlapping job. Early notice gives the best chance of keeping everything on schedule across the week.
What UK rules cover towing a compressor with a car or van?
GOV.UK sets out what a driver can legally tow based on their licence category and the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer together on the road. Rules differ depending on when your licence was issued, so check your own category rather than assuming it matches a colleague’s licence. Read the official guidance here: Towing with a car: what you can tow (GOV.UK). Checking this before you tow, rather than after, avoids a problem on the road that a quick look at the handbook would have caught.
Looking for Portable Compressor Hire near me?
Call Coppard at 0118 979 2828 to discuss your sites, your dates and the portable compressor that suits your route.
