A hydraulic tension spring comprises a block comprising at least one liquid-impermeable cylinder and at least one piston disposed through an open end of the cylinder. The piston provides a piston guide within a liquid containment space within the cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid. A tensioning member moves the piston or the cylinder relative to the other to compress the hydraulic fluid and load the spring, while the piston guide keeps the piston axially aligned to prevent buckling.
