The Covered Wagon

Everyone who traveled west on the Oregon Trail, or almost any other trail for that matter, traveled by covered wagon. Covered wagons had rounded tops mad of a cloth called canwas--this was usually rubbed with oil to waterproof it. There were strings at the front and back of the wagon that could be drawn tight as to keep out the elements. Inside the wagon there were numerous hooks that could be utilized for hanging almost anything.

Why was the covered wagon such a popular method of transportation among people traveling west?

What do you think could have improved the covered wagon?