Been fixing up another dozen 3n’s and am trying the step down pans on these. Anyone like or dislike them? It may be my imagination but it seems I have to increase the downward bend on the dog slightly more on these than the regulars. They’re five pounds or so without bending down to get three and a half.

A 10 degree bent should get you close to 31/2 pound pan tension
If you get to much of a bend they will self set. Say 20 degree or more.

I use them and like them. Every brand of trap is different, I used them on Victor, Bridgers and sleepy creek. Some I bend the dog upward and others downwards to get the desired pan tension. What is nice about them, the pan tension stays consistent.

sounds like you may have too long a dog possibly

No I got them straight from Ed. They’re fine with the bend. The level of the pan where the dog engages is the same as the regular pans so just my imagination I guess. Yes I agree on the consistency and I really like the round coyote proof dogs although they’re a little harder to put on. I use a vice to close them most of the way then a hammer straight down to finish closing the bend. I meant on the OP does anyone prefer or not like the step down pans over the regular. Do they improve the catch any ? BTW, Ed is a great guy to deal with.

I like regular pit pans, step down I don’t. If anything gets under the pan it won’t work.

Ed talked me into trying step downs for my Bridger2s
In testing they are doing find. Just want more poundage on mine. 8# is what I like for my yote only sets.

As far as things getting under the pan, I use wire screen pan covers
But most any pan cover will do.
Shorten the dog latch and lessen pan travel and it will fire even with some stuff under it.
Just my experience

And Ed is a great person to talk traps and trapping

Agree. Step down is flimsy in comparison to the regular.

I've got them on several Montana 2s four coiled and step down PITs.
Once I figured out how to get the pans to sit level and slightly below the jaws they worked great. First put them on though they sat way high
This model trap has a really thin flat profile when set. And holds anything that gets in it.. it is so much like the old monty round jaw 2s, fun trap, but the pits made it better. A really nice coyote trap wish I had a pile of these.

Been running the step down pans for several years. Killed many yotes with this set up. I’ll have one bent ever once in a while ( quick fix with pliers) but 95% of the catches are buried like this one. No problems with pan tension. 2.5 - 3lbs.

Ttt

Okay this is going to be super pic heavy, sorry about that. I've put them on a lot of traps. I like them a lot. Ed is a first class guy to deal with, and back about 2012 when I was first getting started out trapping he helped me out a lot.

I put a pile of them on some duke 1.5's for fox traps. I think I have three dozen of them done up that way. 1.5 lb of pan tension. Here's one with the pan installed.



I also made up some coyote traps with Bridger #2's and Duke #2's. I've caught coyotes and fox in both of these as well and they did great. 3.5 lbs on these







I don't think they are necessary for catching critters, but they do provide very consistent pan height and pan tension and provide a much larger kill area. If you have the money to buy them I say go for it! You will not be disappointed. Here is a pictorial Ed sent me years ago for the 1.5 Duke's. Enjoy!







And here's the results

Huge fan of regular PIT pans on traps. All my canine stuff has them on except my Sleepy Creek traps, and some of them.

The concept was good, but I soon found I am NOT a fan of those I put step downs on. Pan material is thin and the do not handle harsh temperature changes and go off. Some get out of whack and won’t stay set at all. I struggle with correcting that problem and don’t understand why it happens.

I went with a straight dog and don't have that problem anymore