Some embodiments may include a coil tubing injector, which may include: a cylinder-rod assembly including at least one cylinder rod operably coupled to a first load beam and a second load beam, the at least one cylinder rod to change a separation distance between the first load beam and the second load beam; opposing grippers; and at least one additional beam, at least one link, a set of gears, or control valves to maintain a parallel orientation of the load beams relative to each other during operation of the at least one cylinder rod, the at least one additional beam, the at least one link, or the set of gears operably coupled to at least one of the load beams or the control valves coupled to hydraulic piping to hydraulically operate the cylinder-rod assemblies independently. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.