Whats everyones thoughts and experiences in the line with baseplating traps and center swiveling. Have several dukes and others that are side chained, thinking about changing to baseplate. I invested in a custer bender and can make my own rod baseplates.
I like baseplates for strengthening the trap frame when I beef up springs.
But I don’t necessarily like them for center swiveling if the trap comes that way fine. I never center swivel long spring or jumps period.
And for rocky bottom creeks I trap I’ve never liked center swiveled stuff.
Colt
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Donyou see any difference in the holding of coyotes and cats?
I’m not a big yote trapper but I have caught some and cats I’ve seen yotes pull out of both. When a trap in center swiveled you are depending on the spring strength to hold the animal even with offset and some will say I’m wrong but if the trap is weak and the the levers are not a 100 percent lock up type spring the springs can and will back down from a fully engaged offset laminated or cast jaw trap and let a Coyote pull out of the springs are not strong enough. Especially on short chains where a big dog can pull up with his back feet. I’ve seen them do it, on good strong built long springs when the springs get a good lock up the animal pulls against the spring wedgeing his self tighter and tighter that’s why you can hold a big otter buy two or three toes in a number 1 long spring.
Center swiveling is great for keeping a trap moving and not binding but traps need to be strong for coyotes from what I’ve seen. Even on coon and otter I’ve had trouble with center swiveled coils springs
Cats are not as big of an issue.
I like a trap with lots of swivels and good lock up and enough power to come up through tough or heavy covering I hate having to continually beef up the strength because of poor design.
Theres a million different opinions out there on this too.
Colt
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In y’all expirence doesnthe double loop chain need to be swapped out?
My coon traps have double loop chains and we caught and held a bobcat in a #1 with the double loop chain set for coon this past season. But if targeting coyotes specifically I’d probably swap it
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Not specifically setting for coyotes but its definitely a possibility. Mostly after cats and some fox on land. But coyotes will probly be caught and ill put them up too
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First of all, let me say that I am not an expert on anything, but I will chime in on this one. I agree with most of what Colt, and Taulbee 1 said! If however, a trap is new, or pretty new, I think you can get by just fine for a couple of years or more with double loop chain for the most part. The only thing I would want to have bigger, and better chain on after a couple of years, would be coyote specific traps! This will save some expense, or at least hold off some expense for a couple of years if money is a bit tight. The only thing I would do with factory chain for sure before I set those traps is add a double swivel near the base of the trap, because in my opinion, having the trap be able to swivel well is more important than most anything! Add another swivel or two at mid chain, and one where it’s attached to an anchor/ stake/ or drag, and you should be good to go. After a couple of years though, I would change out chain for machine chain; especially if targeting coyotes! And, if you want to go all out, especially with leg hold otter traps, twist link chain. And again, swivel the fire out of whatever type of chain you use! I generally, replace my factory chains on coyote specific traps to machine chain after a few years, and move those old chains to traps I use for coon, mink, or 330 beaver traps that I want to add some length to. So far , I have not had any problems.
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Yeah ive been adding some leanth and extra swivels. I think the more swivels you have the better. Thats when the chain will likely fail is when kinked up
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I think the twin loop chain will hold everything except occasional coyotes May bite it open. I have a bunch of it I’m putting on beaver footholds, with swivels. There’s different sized twin loop just like all others. The 2/0 and up is plenty adequate for beaver I’d think. I think I’m guilty of going overboard on worrying about modification at times on land traps. About any set up will hold cats and I’m not crazy or thinking about catching coyotes most of the time anyway.
Yeah i relized i may be going down a rabbit hole. K.I.S.S
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It’s fun modifying stuff if you have time.
Oh yeah keeps me busy