Covered wagons and team wagons for trail travel were built in the simplest construction, costing $85.00 each, and were valued for being light, strong, and carried on sturdy wheels. Wheels were recommended to be made of bois-d'arc, osage orangewood, or white oak, and bolt ends were to be riveted on the running gear to prevent accidents. Concord, New Hampshire, spring wagons were preferred, with the wagon costing $85.00 and the wagon cover $100.00. Six-mule team wagons were the preferred mode of travel, though oxen were often used because they were cheaper, less liable to stampede, and better at covering long distances. Six mules cost $600.00, while eight oxen cost $200.00, and harness cost $24.00, bringing the total cost for oxen, harness, wagon, and cover to $409.00. Suggested supplies for three persons for one year with an oxen team included rifles, pistols, flour, bacon, coffee, tea, sugar, rice, dried fruit, salt and pepper, saleratus, lard, lead, a tent, bedding, cooking utensils, matches, candles, soap, and private baggage, with a total cost of $225.00. Supplies were packed compactly to make room for necessary goods, with bacon stored in sacks of 100 pounds each and, in high heat, placed in boxes surrounded by bran to keep the fat from melting, while flour was packed in double canvas sacks of 100 pounds each.