The only reason I can think of NOT to center swivel is like has already been stated -- tough on the setting leg after a few hundred traps. But at the same time I have read a few books by very good (number wise) coon trappers that say that center swiveling is not needed but none of them go into the whys or why nots of it. I am interested in knowing some of the reasons NOT to center swivel.

Paul, I don't think it is sliding past the middle with either set up. To do so the levers would need to drop and that wouldn't be a good thing on any trap, regardless, right. The way I see it, pulling toward a lever and actually moving or sliding is two separate things. As you know, my view is based upon fox and not coyote.

Matt Jones taught me how to set traps with my feet!

Saw Steph do that in the T4K video. Broke my hand one year and had to do it.

Might look good on paper but speaking for me I have not had pullouts that are noteworthy. Be interested to hear from the others on here. If comparing what looks good on paper, to dead coyotes in the backof the truck, I'll take the coyotes in the back of the truck any day.

me too but if think about it th ecenter of the jaws is the weakest point . just the way i see it .

Drifter

It is the sliding that cuts the skin dugout. Straight pulls don't cut.

Foot only slides to the side one time Paul! After that the constant pressure applied by the animal keeps the chain tight and the foot stays put where it's at.

I would think it is better to have the foot centered in the trap, so that the jaws have equal force on the foot, plus it would also make better on the jaws, if pulling from on end I would think it would be easier to pull a jaw out of the frame, and when pulling straight from the center it would be harder, just less stress. IMO

I have always been of the strong opinion that spring strength and/or incorrect pan tension are the most common reasons for pull outs. Maybe I am wrong, never had many problems with pullouts that werent caused by my own mistake

I have always center swiveled because that's what I was always told it's best to do it and the baseplating can't hurt the strength of the trap!

KYBOY;
Wouldn't frame bowing from the center reduce the width and hold the jaws tighter?

Yeah, but the damage to slide twice as far is twice as great.

When it bowed the baseplate I guess it pulled the jaw tips at a funny angle. They were laying on the ground by the rest of the trap

Thats a good point. As I sit here with my hand in a #1.5 and pulling the chain with the other, I can see where the jaws could pull out of the attachment side of the frame but the jaws would have to fold.

I would think with baseplating that frame bowing would be a moot issue. How much chain you guys giving those coyotes?

I haven't read through the whole post yet. It's late and I have to post this before I forget.

The reason I don't center swivel my water traps is that if I set a trap on a solid bottom that I couldn't bed well in, example- limestone, rocky crick, cement. The trap wouldn't sit flat on the surface and would be tippy if it were center swiveled.
If they were side swiveled they would have a flat base and would not be as unstable.
That being that I can't find a softer spot to bed the trap in.

Keep in mind Paul Slim was doing ADC on stock killing coyotes, doubt foot comfort was at the top of the list while doing that, lol.

With a baseplated trap I would think so. Thats my main reason for baseplating..

Just use snares LOLOL then theres no debate, or is there?

Some times as much as 8' when used on a drag.