I have had a couple dozen of the Sleepy #3 Longs for several years now and am finally going to try them out this year. I am slowly converting over from coils to long springs, so I am looking for the best quality and design in #3 and #4 dls traps. I like the initial look of these Sleepys ok, but it really bothers me how they have the base plate lam too darn short! It doesn't reach across the whole base on either side. It may not seem like a big deal, but I can already see a slight drop on each end of the base plate that the lam does not cover... it drop down slightly on each end. Call it OCD or whatever, but after setting the traps a few times, I can see it! I plan on running three or 4 beads of weld on each end of the base lams and then grinding flat. That should beef up the base ends that have no extra steel backing it. I will double up the dog as well, and add lams to the jaws of course. The swivels look a little slight to me, so I will replace those too. Other than that, I hope these will be my next affordable coyote, bobcat and fox trap, but I am unsure of them... Do these traps have good steel? Do they hold up well over the years? What do you think of the Sleepy Long Springs and what if anything, would you do to them to make them a great trap? Thanks guys, Joel

I love mine. I have 4 dozen #3 offset sleepy creeks I use them for exposed cat sets and they have worked great for me. Never had a problem but I have never caught a coyote in one just cats. I have been using them for 5 years now and they have held up great.

Been using the 3's now for about 6 yrs.for coyotes with no issues.

I have only positive things to say about them. I have got timber wolves in the 4 dls without any issue.

There have been reports of problems with the frame and the jaw tips,I don't know if they had a problem with a production run or what,I personally have had no problems.Reminds me of the old Montgomery line,I loved them but some runs had a problem with jaw breakage if you dry fired them

Thanks for sharing your experiences on these traps guys, it's been very helpful to me!

Regarding the problem with frames bending (jaw posts), Sleepy Creek recommends breaking in the springs with their setters. In other words, compressing the springs several times near the spring eyes WITHOUT using the normal leverage method by breaking them over your knee/thigh. I did break-in my #3s that way and haven't experienced any of the reported problems.

It was a poor design choice on their part, and they haven't been all that helpful for those who experienced it - just ask Zagman. Having said that, they've worked fine for me setting 'em as I normally would...so far.

Hi line wolfer howdy
I use the 4s every year i put in 4.5 springs on my 4s.
Use them for wolves
I have took off the base plate put on my own because I like D ring to be off to one side, not center.
They work just fine imo
They are not a newhouse

I'm impressed with mine, but I had to use the setters--didn't have the strength to set the normal way for the first several attempts.

Sleepy Creek is closing its doors in 2019.