Wagons

• The wagons were made of wood. Bows made of hickory framed the wagon tops. A cover made of heavy canvas treated with linseed oil went over the bows, providing shelter for the travelers and their possessions. The linseed oil made the canvas waterproof. The wagons had very large wheels to make traversing the countryside easier. Roads were not well-defined and the way was often bumpy.
  
  

Livestock

• Livestock to pull the wagons were a vital part of any wagon train. The three types of animals typically chosen for the job were horses, mules and oxen. Horses made the best time, but required the most supplies to keep in good shape. Mules had better stamina than horses, but also required extra supplies to keep fit. The leading choice of most wagon trains was oxen. Oxen couldn't travel as fast as horses or donkeys, but they could survive by grazing on local vegetation and they were less likely to succumb to the hardships of the journey.
  
  

Provisions

• The members of the wagon train packed a number of provisions to ensure against hunger on the long trip. They planned to supplement their provisions by hunting, fishing and gathering. They could also buy staples like flour and sugar at supply posts along the way if necessary. Bacon, coffee, flour, sugar, yeast, salt and pepper were the most common provisions. Many people also packed pemmican and dried vegetables.
  
  

People

• The people organizing the wagon train played an integral role in a successful journey. It took fortitude and stamina to make such a long, arduous and uncertain trip. Wagoners faced attacks by Native Americans, possible starvation and long distances between water sources during some stretches of the trip. Accidents were also common. The most common cause of death among westward travelers was accidental shooting.