Revive Studebaker!
Conestoga wagons (pronounced "kahn-eh-stoh'-guh") were large, sturdy wagons usually pulled by six horses. Their strong, broad wheels made them capable of crossing rutted roads, muddy flats, and the non-roads of the prairie. An unusual feature was a curved floor, designed to reduce load shifting -- and Conestogas were capable of loads up to six tons!
The high sides and curved floor gave rise to a common misconception...that Conestogas could float across rivers. During the Civil War, the Union Army did experiment with supply wagons that could -- they hoped -- float well enough to cross small rivers. But, the idea did not work very well. Conestogas were nicknamed prairie schooners because their high, white canvas tops gave the appearance of sailing ships, especially when traversing the sea of grass of the American prairie.
Smaller, cheaper styles of covered wagons, with lower sides and a flat floor, eventually replaced the Conestoga.
Conestoga or simple covered wagon. In their day they were the trucks, pickups, and family vans that opened the Great American West.
