The Chuckwagon

In 1866, Charles invented the chuck wagon. He redesigned a Studebaker wagon to fit a cowboy’s trail drive needs. The wagon held a chuck box containing shelves and drawers. He fitted this to the back of the wagon and it served to keep  the cook’s things in order. The box had a hinged lid, which when dropped would make a perfect surface to prepare meals. Included alongside the chuck box was a barrel holding water and a row of hooks, boxes, brackets, and a coffee grinder.

A canvas strung hammock under the wagon held wood and buffalo chips for cooking fires. A smaller wagon box was pulled behind that carries the cowboys’ bedrolls, personal items, and whiskey for medical purposes.