Wayne -
Our deck (built in Spring 2000) is 2x2 's and 1/2" OSB (oriented strand-board). It is based on Bill Calkins' which is based on Melvin Schuette's which I think is based on Dave Rolley's -- whatever, each section weighs about 65 lbs and the original was supposed to be able to be fit in a full-size station wagon. Don't know about that, but I have transported it in my S-10 size pickup. Besides, when was the last time anyone saw a 'full-size' station wagon?
I have loaded into the truck by myself, but with two people it is not hard to handle at all. I have our protective ramp hinged to the #1 section so that section is real heavy but I try to time it so that someone else has to load and unload that section
Oh, it is 11 sections not 12. Our arresting rope supports are just some 1x2's with V-grooves cut in them - these are pegged down to the edges of the deck with longish 1/4" screws (we don't even put nuts on, we just use the screws as pegs).
The other countries decks are quite a bit smaller than ours and do not meet our rulebook descriptions. The 11 section deck was made possible by a change in the rulebook in the '90s