...what upgrade(s) would you add??? I am in the process of putting together a good number of #3 and #4 Newhouse traps for use on a private land traplines. I haven't trapped with NH traps on a fairly large scale before, so I don't have much wisdom to add on how one could improve upon this already great trap. For those of you who have put in a good amount of time with these traps before, what would you change and/or add to make them better? Would you even change a thing? I appreciate any genuine advice and thoughts on this idea, Joel

They are a heck of a trap, but a real pain to set over your knee because you can't break the springs over. Possibly you could cut the baseplate that extends past the jaw posts and that would allow the springs to break over but I've never tried it, never been willing to take a cutting wheel to a Newhouse. Lol

Eeeeehh. I modified a lot of the small NH traps for coon in the 80's. One of the dumbest things I have ever done (and I have done a lot of them) !!!! Tons of good traps on the market for coyotes now-a-days so just CONSIDER selling the NH as is, and using the $ to purchase another type. If you are stuck on LS's that is not an issue as 3N's and old #4 V cast jaw traps are available at conventions that are much less expensive and can be modded to your liking. Sewell is probably still turning in his grave from what I did and working on his 3's and 4's might really get him roused !!!............................................ the mike

I hear you on the extended bases, but your right... I too would never chop them!

Mike, now that I think about it, there really isn't a thing I would do to a dls NH in regards to the trap itself. I started this post way to "broad" I think. I guess the mods I would really be curious about would be any kind of pan tensioning mod and chain attachment. I would NEVER chop or weld anywhere on the trap itself. NHs, to me are already great. I think I should have made this post much more specific. Also, I am definitely stuck on ls traps despite the few inconveniences they may have over coils.

You could install an LPC tension under spring with very little modifying.

AND move the chain and swivel to the base...be careful when unscrewing the nuts on the base of the trap. soak them with three in one oil over night.
I mention this as some of the wolf traps like the #44 had a clevis off of the base to somewhat center the paw up. On the beat up rusted pans I put a Ed Medvetz Paws -I -Trip pan system on the trap.

You can't modify perfection . . .

Okay, base plate w/ D ring , Check
Posi-Trip ( Paws -I - Trip) pan, check
Laminate the jaws, check


But dang those springs. . . best there ever was !

Pan and trigger arrangement

LT, you hit the nail on the had about those springs...scary strong even after a hundred years.

I dont think cutting the base plates shorter would help for breaking them over your knee. The bottom spring eye fits so close it wouldn't allow for much angling of the spring regardless.