Abstract: A device for absorbing forces between a tow vehicle and a trailer, such as a fifth wheel, is disclosed. Preferably, the device is mountable in a pick-up truck bed with a cross bar between two force absorbers having biasing precompressed springs to absorb forces such as from jolts and offset forces of the road due to bumps, wind, and other forces. The cross bar may be readily removed to expose the pick-up bed. The force absorbers may include a shaft having a slide body with the springs to resist movement of the slide body along the shaft. The slide body is couplable to the trailer, typically via the cross bar. A mechanism is provided to allow the slide body mounted to the cross bar to pivot to allow pivoting of the cross member between said the first and second force absorbers and so that binding on the shaft is reduces as the cross bar pivots and shifts. The shaft may be disposed in a longitudinal opening in the slide body having a tapered portion, such as a venturi shaped hole, to reduce binding.