Equipment rental
Combination (Combo) Trucks for Rent
A combination (combo) truck is a sewer cleaner that pairs a high-pressure water jetting (rodder) system with a powerful vacuum on one chassis, so a crew can jet debris loose and vacuum it out in a single pass. Combo trucks are used to clean sewer mains, storm drains, catch basins, and manholes.
A combination (combo) truck brings two systems together on one unit: a high-pressure water jetting system (often called a rodder) that scours the inside of a pipe, and an industrial vacuum that lifts the loosened debris, water, and sludge into an onboard debris body. This jet-and-vacuum pairing is what makes the combo the standard truck for municipal and contractor sewer and storm-line maintenance. A hose reel feeds the jetting nozzle downstream while an articulating vacuum boom pulls material out of the manhole or catch basin, letting one crew clean, flush, and remove waste without a second machine on site.
Because it carries both jetting water and vacuum capacity, a combo truck handles jobs a plain vacuum truck cannot (breaking up grease, roots, and settled grit) and jobs a hydrovac is not built for (running a jetting nozzle hundreds of feet down a sewer main). Many combos are also capable of light hydro-excavation and catch-basin cleanout, which makes them a flexible rental for public works departments, pipeline and utility contractors, and industrial plants that need one truck to cover several tasks. Typical units offer a debris body in the 10 to 15 cubic yard range, on the order of 1,000 to 1,500 gallons of rodder water, and a jetting system delivering roughly 60 to 80 GPM at 2,000-plus PSI.
Vac4Rent is a marketplace to rent combo trucks and the wider range of vacuum trucks, vac trailers, and hydrovac equipment, or to list your own for rent. You submit one rental request describing the work, the location, and the dates, and we connect you with rental companies serving your area who reply directly by email or phone. There is no commission and no booking fees, and Vac4Rent does not set or publish rental rates: pricing and terms are worked out directly between you and the rental company. Vac4Rent is operated by the Hydrovac News family of brands (Hydrovac News, Hydrovac Hotline, and Hydrovac Magazine), with roughly 34-plus years of hydro-excavation and vacuum-truck industry experience.
How it works
A combo truck works in two coordinated steps. First, a high-pressure water pump sends water through a hose reel to a jetting nozzle that is fed into the pipe; the nozzle's jets propel it down the line and blast settled grit, grease, roots, and debris off the pipe walls, flushing the material back toward the access point. At the same time, a large blower or fan creates suction through an articulating vacuum boom or hose positioned in the manhole, catch basin, or wet well, drawing the water-and-solids slurry up into the truck's debris body. Water is carried in the onboard tank to feed the jetting system, while the collected debris and liquid are hauled off for disposal. The result is a single truck that cleans the line and removes the waste in one continuous operation.
Typical specifications
Typical ranges only. Exact specs vary by make, model, and configuration.
- Debris capacity
- 10-15 cubic yards
- Water (rodder) capacity
- 1,000-1,500 gallons
- Jetting system (water)
- 60-80 GPM at 2,000-2,500 PSI
- Vacuum power
- 5,000-18,000 CFM
- Boom / hose reel reach
- 180-320 degree rotation, 8-inch suction
- Blower type
- Fan or positive-displacement (PD)
What a combination (combo) truck is used for
Sewer main cleaning
Jet high-pressure water down a sanitary or combined sewer main to cut through grease, roots, and settled solids, then vacuum the loosened debris out at the downstream manhole to restore flow capacity.
Catch-basin and storm-drain cleanout
Vacuum accumulated sediment, sand, leaves, and trash out of catch basins, storm inlets, and culverts, and jet-flush connecting lines to keep stormwater systems draining.
Manhole and wet-well cleaning
Remove grit, sludge, and standing water from manholes, lift-station wet wells, and interceptors so crews can inspect structures and pumps safely.
Pipe inspection prep (pre-CCTV)
Jet and vacuum a line clean before a camera crew runs CCTV inspection, giving a clear, debris-free view of pipe condition and defects.
Grease and root removal
Use specialized jetting nozzles and cutters to break up fats/oils/grease (FOG) blockages and root intrusions in lateral and main lines, then vacuum the material away.
Industrial and plant line cleaning
Clean process trenches, sumps, drain lines, and containment areas at industrial and manufacturing sites where both flushing and heavy-debris removal are needed.
Light hydro-excavation and daylighting
On combos equipped for excavation, use the jetting water and vacuum to pothole or expose buried utilities where a dedicated hydrovac is not on site.
When to choose a combination (combo) truck
Choose a combination (combo) truck when the job requires both flushing a pipe clean and removing what comes loose, which is the case for most sewer, storm, and catch-basin maintenance. If your work is safe, non-destructive digging around buried utilities (daylighting or potholing), a dedicated hydrovac truck or hydrovac trailer is the better-optimized tool. If you only need to remove liquids, sludge, or dry material with no high-pressure jetting, a standard vacuum truck or liquid vacuum truck is simpler and often more economical. The combo's advantage is versatility: it covers pipe cleaning, catch-basin work, and (on capable units) light excavation from a single truck, which is why it is a common rental for municipal public works and pipeline contractors.
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Combination (Combo) Truck rental FAQ
What is a combination (combo) truck used for?+
A combo truck is used to clean sewer mains, storm drains, catch basins, manholes, and wet wells. It jets high-pressure water to break up grease, roots, and settled debris inside a pipe, then vacuums the loosened slurry into an onboard debris body, cleaning the line and removing the waste in one operation.
What is the difference between a combo truck and a hydrovac truck?+
A hydrovac truck is built for safe, non-destructive digging (daylighting and potholing) around buried utilities, using pressurized water and vacuum to excavate soil. A combo truck is built for sewer and pipe maintenance, using a high-flow jetting (rodder) system to clean the inside of pipes and a vacuum to remove the debris. Some combo trucks can perform light hydro-excavation, but the hydrovac is optimized for digging.
What are typical specifications for a combo truck?+
Typical combo trucks offer a debris body of about 10 to 15 cubic yards, roughly 1,000 to 1,500 gallons of rodder water, a jetting system delivering around 60 to 80 GPM at 2,000-plus PSI, and vacuum power in the range of 5,000 to 18,000 CFM. These are typical ranges, not guarantees; actual specs vary by manufacturer and model. Common makes include Vactor, Vac-Con, GapVax, Federal Signal, and Aquatech.
How does renting a combo truck through Vac4Rent work?+
You submit one rental request describing the work, location, and dates. Vac4Rent connects you with rental companies serving your area, and they reply directly by email or phone with availability and pricing. There is no commission and no booking fees, and Vac4Rent does not set or publish rental rates; terms are arranged directly between you and the rental company.
Can a combo truck do hydro-excavation?+
Some combo trucks are equipped for light hydro-excavation, such as potholing or exposing buried utilities, using their jetting water and vacuum. However, for dedicated non-destructive digging, a purpose-built hydrovac truck or trailer generally offers better boom control, digging efficiency, and cold-weather options. Note in your request whether you need excavation capability so rental companies can match the right unit.
Is a combo truck available in my city?+
Availability varies by area, and inventory is added over time. The fastest way to find out is to submit a rental request; Vac4Rent will connect you with rental companies serving your location, and they will contact you directly if they have a combo truck available for your dates.
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