Here's a blurry picture of my smeared drawbar:
View attachment 498441
The term I want to use is 'galled', but that's not technically right either. It's just 'normal' wear, but the circular motion of it is tearing out little arc-shaped splinters that I didn't like at all.
And indeed its a single axle trailer, with a short tongue. So maybe it will be a tongue weight issue. I'll see how the greased bronze drawbar wears. Worst case I redo the entire trailer tongue. The extra work I did to make it bolt on will pay off in that case.
Gordon - Never seen that 'sideways' hitch design before, rather neat.