Claims of the best hitch, and after 8 years needs a new base :h I am thinking there are better hitches out there if that is the case . I have a 12 year old Reese Signature ,same head as their Elite ,and there are no wear parts to date that have to be replaced. Not a single problem with my Reese. Maybe those B&W are not the hitch they are advertised .
Very doubtful there are stainless bolts on a hitch , most common stainless bolts 304 ,or 316 don't have the same tensile strength as say grade 8. Surely B&W would not be putting on inferior bolts :@ The fact of having to even get new bolts, free or not would keep some away from dealing with B&W.