<P> Covered wagons were primarily used to transport cargo, as well as small children, elderly, and the infirm . Lacking suspensions, their rides were rough even over good ground, all but unbearable over rough . Those who could, walked . </P> <P> While covered wagons traveling short distances on good roads could be drawn by horses, those crossing the plains were usually pulled by a team of two or more pairs of oxen . These were driven by a teamster or drover, who walked at the left side of the team and directed the oxen with verbal commands and whipcracks . Mules were also used, harnessed and controlled from the wagon with reins . </P> <P> One covered wagon generally carried the belongings of five people . A well - to - do family might have two or three, or a group of single men traveling together might share one . While crossing the plains, emigrants banded together to form wagon trains for mutual assistance and occasionally defense (the latter purpose and associated formation giving rise to the still - used idiom "circle (or' circled' or' circling') the wagons"). </P> <P> Because the wagon bed is narrow, many families would construct an "overjet" for additional space . An overjet is created by nailing boards or planks on top of the wagon bed that extend out over the wheels . This would create space to place mattresses for sleeping on either sides of the bed . Additional bows would be inserted to stretch the canvas to cover the overjet and keep the weather out . The area under the planks in the wagon bed could be used for storage . Homesteading prairie families would use the wagons as temporary accommodations until they could build more permanent housing . </P>

How big was a covered wagon that the pioneers used