LoydB:
Loading and unloading isn't too awful. So far I've only done it a couple of times, but haven't crashed the boat yet either. Won't be able to get pictures till summer. I'll be sure to take pics and post them.
Upper deck raises and lowers via hydraulic pump, cylinder and marine style cables. The maker actually used Sta-Lok fittings on the cables. The upper, trailer deck has a center channel which accepts and guides the tongue prop wheel. There are ramps for the wheels and the center channel. There is an electric winch mounted to enable it to pull the boat/trailer rig up the ramps onto the deck. A tongue prop with ball at the forward end accepts the trailer's coupler once up on the deck. With car and motorcycle off the trailer I line up the "rig" by hand at the ramps. The rig is light enough to muscle around on the ground with relative ease. Winch cable gets hooked onto the trailer, trigger the electric winch and it slowly climbs up the ramps onto the deck. Coupler is secured to prop, and the rest gets secured with heavy trucker style ratchet straps. That part I need to work on. First attempt wasn't so great. Unloading isn't too bad either. Set up the ramps, connect winch cable, motor out the cable as i push the rig off the deck. Once the wheels are on the ramps it drops itself down the ramps, whch is the reason I use the winch to unload. Next time out I'm going to try using a rope with a turn or so around the prop stand. Amazing how much force you can cinch up that way. The whole operation isn't as bad as it sounds.
Test drove an Impreza last night. Used 2011 2.5i Not impressed. noisy, buzzy, thrummy, underpowered. Insisted on downshifting itself OD to 3rd on slight hills at 70 mph. Any application of throttle caused downshift. Yet not a responsive car. I think I'll be looking elsewhere.
