The prairie schooner was smaller and lighter than the Conestoga wagon—which at the time was popular in the eastern United States for hauling freight—and therefore was more suitable for long-distance travel. Unlike the Conestoga, which had a body that angled up at each end and prevented cargo from tipping or falling out, the prairie schooner had a flat horizontal body. The typical box, the sides of which were lower than those of the Conestoga, was about 4 feet wide, 9 to 11 feet long, and 2 to 3 feet deep. With the bonnet, the wagon stood about 10 feet tall, and the total length of the wagon from front tongue and yoke to rear measured some 23 feet. The box sat on two sets of wheels of different sizes: the rear wheels were about 50 inches in diameter, and the front wheels were smaller to make it easier to turn. The wheels were made of wood, with iron bands fastened to the outside of the rims.
A typical prairie schooner needed teams of 10 to 12 horses or mules or six yoked oxen to pull one of these wagons, with mules and oxen generally preferred. Ideally, several more animals would be taken along to replace those that became lame or worn-out along the route.
Since prairie schooners had no suspension and the roads and trails at the time were rough, most people on long treks preferred to walk alongside the wagon or ride a horse (if they had one) rather than endure the wagon’s constant jolting and lurching. Ox teams were not controlled with reins, so the driver walked alongside the animals, using a whip and spoken commands to guide them. The usual average rate of travel with such wagons on the Oregon Trail was about 2 miles (3.2 km) per hour, and the average distance covered each day was about 15 to 20 mile
A typical prairie schooner needed teams of 10 to 12 horses or mules or six yoked oxen to pull one of these wagons, with mules and oxen generally preferred. Ideally, several more animals would be taken along to replace those that became lame or worn-out along the route.
Since prairie schooners had no suspension and the roads and trails at the time were rough, most people on long treks preferred to walk alongside the wagon or ride a horse (if they had one) rather than endure the wagon’s constant jolting and lurching. Ox teams were not controlled with reins, so the driver walked alongside the animals, using a whip and spoken commands to guide them. The usual average rate of travel with such wagons on the Oregon Trail was about 2 miles (3.2 km) per hour, and the average distance covered each day was about 15 to 20 mile