Abstract: A gas-biased hydraulic cylinder for compensating for the tare weight of a material handling apparatus to be actuated by the cylinder. A tubular body is capped by a cylinder head and a blind end. A piston assembly comprising a hollow cylinder rod having a piston travels through the cylinder head, the piston being seated within the tubular body for reciprocating action therein. The piston is actuated by hydraulic fluid. A hollow cylinder projects from the blind end through an opening in the piston assembly and into the hollow cylinder rod, the hollow cylinder and the piston assembly being sealingly and slidably connected. The interiors of the hollow cylinder and hollow cylinder rod form an interior chamber that is pressurized with gas to bias the cylinder rod so as to compensate for the tare weight of the material handling apparatus.