welding to the load members 60 as shown the cylinders 31 can be bolted to the load members 60 using flanges 34 or alternative clamping arrangements not shown use of the hydraulic actuators 30 alone as the sole load transferring structure for raising and lowering the traveling slip assembly 15 results in fewer load bearing components which can be machined with great accuracy typically 0 005 of an inch and also through mechanical fastening of the hydraulic actuators 30 to the load members 60 the snubbing unit can be accurately aligned and assembled in about one half the usual time without the need for welding which eliminates the natural stresses inherent in a welded structure the resulting structure remains true and square with reference to fig1 and 4 the hydraulic actuators 30 are illustrated as being mechanically fastened to the load members 60 as shown one or more load members 60 can be formed and be integrated into a unitary load plate 33 which is connected in some secure fashion to the load spool 20 two or more load members 60 are now provided in a single unitary load plate 33 generally the load members 60 can be integral with the tubular snubbing structure 11 such as extending as an oversized.