Should I Use A Weight Distribution Hitch After It Was In A Fire?

Question:

Hi, I have two questions. 1 we had a 2018Rockwood Signature Ultra lite 8324BS that had a dry weight of 8827lbs, a payload of 1463lbs and a hitch weight of 1290lbs and we had an equalizer hitch for that camper. I believe it was the 12,000 lb. hitch with trunnion bars. Will that hitch work with a 2022 Rockwood ultra lite 2608BS with a dry weight of 6836lbs, a payload of 1910lbs, and a hitch weight of 946lbs? My second question is, our first camper burned and this hitch was in the same enclosure as the camper when it burned. I removed all the parts of the hitch and cleaned them. The only parts that were on the trailer were the trunnion arm brackets. The trunnion arms and clips were below the frame and the hitch section was about 3foot away. None of the parts show any damage, warping or twisting. Is this hitch still able to be used for my next camper? Thank you,

asked by: David R

Expert Reply:

Those are great questions, and I am sorry to hear you lost your first camper. For your new 2022 Rockwood ultra lite 2608BS, you can use an 12K Equalizer hitch like the # EQ37121ET. The 12K equalizer will work well on trailers with a tongue weight between 800 and 1,200 lbs. So with a hitch weight of around 946 lbs you are right where you would want to be.

That being said, I would be extremely hesitant to use a weight distribution hitch that has potentially been exposed to intense heat. If the metal parts have been heated to a certain point, it would cause the steel to become brittle. While it may still appear in good shape, we cannot know with certainty that it is safe to use. I certainly would not want to put my brand new camper at risk. If something were to fail while you were towing, it could lead to a very bad time. Ultimately it is up to you. I recommend replacing the entire system with another 12K equalizer like the # EQ37121ET.

expert reply by: Jesse M