Plain and simple modern truck beds are simply not as strong as years beck. B&W realized this and discontinued the 18k Companion that used the gooseneck hitch for attachment and the base sat on the top corrugations of the bed. I had mine in my 98 RAM for several years with no bed deflection or base deflection. I moved it to my 11 HO DRW RAM and noticed after a while of use the bed had dents at the front edge of the base and the flat part of the base at the front was actually bent.
I contacted B&W and then sent me a new base along with shims to make the base have direct contact with the bottom corrugation of the bed and then to the cross rails.
At that time they were developing the 20k Companion that uses the gooseneck for a connection also. The new hitch has adjustable shims for keeping contact with the bottom corrugation and cross rails.
This is something that B&W was fixing around 2012. So why the HE!! are these hitch manufacturers still relying on a WEAK bed to support huge fore and aft forces with these hitches???
