I have a few reasons why I would just as soon my traps were not center swiveled, but I'd like to hear why you guys think it may NOT be a good thing always. Lets hear em...

I will wait to hear your reasons. I like them center swiveled and have seen no negatives to it.

Are you talking canine traps or coon traps? Both?

Slim can explain it best, took me nearly 10 years and finally threats of bodily harm to tell me why, lol.

my reasons are:

costs money to do it.

takes time to do it.

other than that, fill us in.

Sounds like a personal preference. The logic behind center swiveling speaks for itself. Direct pull would limit some of the sliding/cutting of the ankle/foot. You can argue that if you side swivel the animal can pull towards the spring on a long spring trap. The other argument is that center swiveled traps are harder to bed. I use the pound down method from sullivan so the sides of the trap actualy hold it in place and made bedding easier. If you bed your trap and set the tension correctly he won't get out no matter which way you swivel. Proper bedding + trap tuning/tension = high catch

Seeing that you 2500 posts you might know something I don't, so lets here you logic. (or you just like to post a lot

haus

as for taking time and money. Unless they have changed since I bought mine, bridgers come center swivelled.

haus

yes some do come already center swiveled. But mine aren't.

The bridgers I've seen are not center swiveled, they are swiveled off a ring around the frame and not in the center of the frame.

Here's one small reason to not center swivel... they hurt your knee when you set the traps. (I got a few more reasons too but I'm keeping them to myself til I see if anyone else has thought of them)

Reasons not to center swivel a trap:
>Less junk under the trap.
>Foot pulls into the leverage of the lever opposite the attachment point. Critter can put more shock to the trap, chain and staking when everything is in a straight line. No twist induced by angle of foot in the jaws, say on a 135 degrees to end attachment instead of 180.
> Time and resources wasted, for the most part.

Reason to center swivel:
>Everyone says it's "better".

Think everyone is getting confused or maybe it's me that is. When i refer to side mounted rather than center, im talking about the base plates that the trap attachs to the BOTTOM of the frame, only off to one side somewhat rather than dead center in the middle of the plate.

Not the factory j hook sticking out the side of the frame, id never keep that set up on a coyote trap.

I like the center swivel for dirt work and the side swivel for water. A matter of preferance .

Thanks Dugout!

Jtrapper - I was thinking anything other than swiveled off the very bottom center of the trap is not center swiveled.

After I bought Charles Dobbins' book on adjusting traps, in 1983, I center swiveled all my traps.

I went from losing an average of 5 muskrats per trapping season-due to wring outs; this was either a 1 or 2 week vacation line. To going about 5 years before having another muskrat wring out. I am sold on center swiveling.

I fail to see how it is all that expensive or time consuming. No one is THAT busy!

Here's one small reason to not center swivel... they hurt your knee when you set the traps. (I got a few more reasons too but I'm keeping them to myself til I see if anyone else has thought of them)

I set long springs on my knee/thigh. I set my coiled springs on the ground after I have driven in the disposable stake. I am kinda tired when I start out on my line and I don't need a to forget a set trap is laying next to me and set my hand in it so I set it when I ready or nearly ready to bury it.

You got me on the off center swivel, but its darn close to center. I actualy base plated mine anyway with a D ring.

haus

Wasn't only speaking of coyote traps but since you brought it up, lets run with it... What's wrong with the set j hook off the corner of the trap in your opinion?

We're off track, i was thinking the question concerned coyote/K9 traps, if mixing in water traps too then all different kind of answers.

Big difference from a 'rat to a coyote, lol.

Your correct ADC BUT there are two different kinds of side swiveling, i like the side mounted base plates JC sells but have most rigged center swiveled, basically don't see it being that big of a deal to go changing everything out.

Haus, I get your reasons. Thanks. Personally I use a little longer chain so I can the trap to my knee if I need to, but that's another kettle of fish.

No, don't throw in the chain debate, lol.

haus

OK lets say just land trapping k9's for the purpose of this discussion. I'll get a water trapping one started later in the week.

~ADC~