I've got a bunch of number 2 double long springs that I want to set for bobcats. Would it be recommended to base plate them and center swivel?

Yes

Not necessary to baseplate a #2 long for cats. I do center mount my chains with a quick link though.
Jim

Your leg will love you if you use offset bases

Mine are set up like this...


The quick link moves around enough on the frame and lays flat...nothing to poke into your leg or knee when setting them. I don't baseplate them but do center mount the chains with better welded chain (not twin loop that came stock with a spring clevis...I just cut off that clevis and chain) and I use crunch proof extra swivels and a double stake swivel on end. I run shorter chains with double stakes but these are for coyotes, cats, badger, fox, and coon. #2 longs set up like this hold coyotes no problemo, been using them like this for mixed bag land sets here since late 1980s. Booster springs make them a little faster too. Whatever gets in one ain't getting out just keep the chain short so the animal lunges have no build up of force or momentum, and swivel the heck out of them. Twin loop chain binds up but twisted kinkless welded chain flows like water and with extra swivels it's best setup I found with this trap model.
Also be sure to file that dog and pan notch to a short, crisp throw and very little pan travel so when it goes it goes all at once quickly.
Wished Victor's came with adjustable pan tension but they didn't. Use a miles or gun notch trigger filing. The old Northwoods did have adjustable pans but those are darn hard to find in decent shape these days.
Good luck on your cats and let us know how you do!
Jim

Jab and I think a like. I baseplate mine dbls with offset ring, use helper springs also. Big difference is I put Pit pans on mine and then pan tension cn be adjusted. I weld the clip on the trap and the pit setup is good forever.

Agree also on holding coyotes in a #2 dbls—they work— would like a little larger jaw spread but once you can get a cat or coyote to stick their foot in —-its there.

A couple years ago I got some #2 dls with the pit center swiveling system already attached,that may be one option,but a little pricey.

Why not leave them set up like they are? Millions of critters have been caught and held with the chain attached to the spring.
I can see no benefit to center swiveling a trap.

I'm a big fan of baseplates - just makes the whole rig tougher and more resilient.

x2 - you could add a rod across the base to beef it up if need be but I wouldn't center swivel it either, no laminations either IMO.

Ditto.

I prefer longspring chain set up factory. Off the spring.

Can’t push chain uphill. Foot slides over and STAYS there.

I see absolutely no difference in feet coming out of center swiveled versus not.

Not to mention, less crap under the trap getting in the way.

I'm with Beav, ADC and Boone, they work as is, probably better than after and kind of mod.

I keep my chain attached to the spring. I have a few with center swivels and actually dislike them. I run my DLS exclusively for exposed cat sets on frozen or rocky ground and rather have a uniform flat bottom to set on hard surfaces. Haven’t seen any difference in holding catches based on where the chain is attached to the trap.

All of mine are attached to the spring. I bought a few 3Ns this summer and two had the PIT swivel system on the base, one in the center and one on the side. The side mounted one is only slightly better than the center mount. Will be moving them to the spring for the reasons stated by Boone and Lurp.

Luvcanids which PIT pan do you use on #2s?

I saw a difference on fox feet when I started center swiveling them, similar to jabNE's set up. That's with a thin jawed trap, might not matter much on a thick jaw. But to each his own. I got lazy doing all that extra digging and hardly use them anymore.

I prefer center swiveled for my Lynx traps.
Not so much for Lynx as for the occasional Wolverine thats get into a Lynx trap.
Center swiveled and additional inline swivels seem to help hold more Wolverine.