eaz-lift hitch - do they wear out?

No, they don't wear out.

And when you get the chains hooked up, there won't be ANY play in the bars

If the hitch has been lubricated as it should have been there should not a whole lot of wear. Look at the ends of the WD bars where they insert into the hitch head. Are they round or do they have a slight oval shape? If oval, or flattened slightly on their front edge, they might need replacing.

Also look at the bottom openings where the bars insert. They also should be round. If they are an oval shape then the hitch most likely has been used without grease. The hitch head MAY need to be replaced if it is too bad. As long as you can still get the WD you need you should probably should keep using the hitch you have. Keep it greased up where the bars go in and put grease on the ball and you should be ok. When/if it ever gets to the point where you cannot get enough tension on the bars then it would be time to replace.
Barney

Yes, where the bars go into the hitch they wear out, so does the hitch. I replaced my 600 lb bars with 1000 lb when we got our last trailer and with them side by side you could see the wear. After another year I replaced the hitch because the hole that the bars went in were worn. The hitch was about 10 years old

I have seen the metal spring clips that keep the spring bars in place in the hitchhead. Always a good idea to carry a couple of extra clips when traveling. The hitchhead CAN wear out if not properly lubricated and it will elongate the holes but with even a LITTLE lubrication it takes a long time. ANY spring will become weaker over time and your bars are nothing but a large torsion spring so in theory they WILL become weaker but again, it'll take a long time. Most likely your indication of them being worn out would be breaking a bar (makes a lot of noise but usually that's about all).
Good luck / Skip

Wow. Some really great information.

I'll check out how "round" or "oval" the hitch openings are and also the round bars that go in the hitch. This should give me an idea if I will need to replace it soon.

I can get it distribute the weight pretty well, but that requires all the washers for my current setup.

How about adding more washers than the hitch came with? Is that something that is possible if needed to distribute enough weight while keeping the bars level? I would need "case hardened" washers of the right size of course. I'm just thinking ahead to possibly needing to do this with a different trailer - and if so, is it safe to do so.

Thanks,
Ed

If you can get the washers on the pin it is ok to use more. It is usually possible to put around 8 washers on. I have not found that they needed to be hardened however.

One tip. There is a "jam" bolt on the very bottom of the hitch head, under the ball. This bolt keeps the hitch head from pivoting and tight up against the washers. It has a tendency to loosen up so should be checked before every towing session. I used to carry a small adjustable wrench and just give it a tug each day.
Barney