Ramp vs Step

[guest@endurance.net]

Terry Emmitt terryemmitt@msn.com
I reviewed the archives (all 64 pages on trailers) to see if I could find
some discussion on this subject, and didn't find anything to satisify my
question, so I'm posting for some opinions.  Here goes:
I have a big TB mare.  She's been in slant loads alot, but always has to
go in the last stall, crammed in kind of sideways.  To unload, she has to
shimmey back and forth a couple of times to get straight enough to back
out. (There's a rear tack area to get around). The whole 'turning around
to unload' bit doesn't seem possible (or desireable).   She's also been
loaded in straight loads, but HATES the ramp.  I hauled her in a 'jalopy'
recently and for the next two weekends couldn't even get her loaded back
into the thing... the big problem is LEAPING over the ramp.
Having that history, I decided to get a 2H, straight load with van doors
(ie, step up).  When I called around looking for used ones, I was told
that set up is 'special order' only and would be hard to find.  It seems
like the ideal solution to my situation... but I'm wondering if I'm
missing something?  Is there a reason you don't put a step up on a
straight load?  That I can tell, backing off and stepping down is no
different in a slant than straight load (well, in her case, easier.).  The
dealer said horses can sometimes slip under the trailer if they raise
their head and panic getting off, but that can happen in a slant load as
well.
Please post any concerns I should have about this setup...  I already put
down a deposit and am having a little buyer's remose panic!

Thanks for the help.

Terry