Abstract: A force absorbing hitch for a vehicle is disclosed. The hitch is capable of at least partially absorbing external forces exerted on the hitch as would be common with the hitch attached to a vehicle for towing of a trailer or the like, particularly those encountered due to acceleration or deacceleration of the towing vehicle. The hitch includes a hitch plate upon which a hitch ball can be mounted with the hitch plate having a pair of rods extending from one edge through apertures in a pair of spaced walls of a frame attached to the rear of the vehicle. Between the walls a stop plate is fastened to the rods and springs surrounding the rods are located at each side of the stop plate on both rods. The frame can be elongated to serve as a bumper or bumper extension with the hitch centrally located on the bumper and below a recess, or step, in the bumper behind which a license plate can be mounted, if desired.