Guidelines for a Trail Wagon

The wagons should be historically correct*, authentically restored or authentic replicas, drivable, with wagon bed at least two sideboards high, painted or unpainted, with or without Dutch oven boot or possum belly; no iron wheeled farm wagons; no rubber-tired wagons; wagons equipped with the following:

A complete break system. 

Spring seat mounted on wagon.

Complete wooden tongue cap, neck yoke or tongue chains, doubletree and singletrees, wheel wrench and stay chains.

One set of team harness displayed on wagon tongue.

Four or five wooden wagon bows mounted on wagon; iron bows accepted.  Wooden water barrel.

Old style chuck box.

Campsite appearance must be authentic.

The cooks must dress historically correct and all food must be cooked on site over wood burning fires.

 

*Historically correct means each contestant should make every possible effort to have each and all pieces of equipment, food, and campsite as near as possible to what it would have been during trail driving days (1865-1890).

 

view of the chuck box.

 

Side view of chuck wagon.

Anatomy of a Chuck Wagon

WAGON BED:  bedrolls slickers wagon sheet 1/2" corral rope guns & ammunition lantern, kerosene axle grease extra wagon wheel salt pork raw beef bulk storage green coffee beans flour, pinto beens sugar, salt dried apples onions, potatoes grain for work team

TOOL BOX: shovel ax branding irons horse shoeing equipment hobbles rods for pot rack extra skillets

CHUCK BOX & BOOT:  1-  flour  2-  sugar  3-  dried fruit  4-  roasted coffee beans  5-  pinto beans  6-  plates, cups, silverware  7-  Possible drawer                castor oil                calamine                bandages                needle, thread                razor, strap  8-  salt, lard, baking soda  9-  vinegar, chewing tobacco,        rolling tobacco 10- sourdough keg, matches,         molasses  11- coffee pot, whiskey 12- skillets, dutch ovens, pot         hooks

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