Motion-dampening fifth-wheel hitch

This invention is related generally to motor vehicles and, more particularly, to connectors between a towing vehicle and a trailing vehicle. The invention involves a connector apparatus for attaching a trailer to a towing vehicle. The invention has a base structure with a kingpin-receiving plate attached with respect to the top of the base structure and pivotable with respect thereto about a substantially horizontal cross-axis. The invention also has a front bottom deck with an upper surface, attached with respect to the front side of the base structure; a rear bottom deck with an upper surface, attached with respect to the rear side of the base structure; a front top deck with a lower surface, attached with respect to the front side of the kingpin-receiving plate thereby defining a gap of a distance between the upper surface of the front bottom deck and the lower surface of the front top deck; a rear top deck with a lower surface, attached with respect to the rear side of the kingpin-receiving plate thereby defining a gap of a distance between the upper surface of the front bottom deck and the lower surface of the front top deck; and resilient, motion-dampening devices between the upper surfaces of the bottom decks and the lower surfaces of the top deck whereby a change in the distance between the upper surface of the bottom deck and the lower surface of the top deck is resisted.