The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE Standard S318 / ANSI) mandates that an unbraked towed implement must not exceed the gross operational weight of the towing tractor (a 1:1 ratio or less) at speeds up to 32 km/h (20 mph). When the towed load exceeds the tractor weight, independent wagon brakes are mandatory. On slopes exceeding 8%, safety recommendations dictate a minimum 1.5:1 tractor-to-trailer weight dominance.

Traditional utility tractors lack anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and often apply service braking exclusively through the differential locks on the rear axle. When descending steep inclines, dynamic weight transfer shifts normal force toward the small front wheels, leaving the rear drive wheels with drastically diminished ground pressure. If the wheels lock, friction transitions from static to sliding, destroying all lateral steering authority.

Every adult passenger seated on hay bales elevates the wagon's center of gravity (h_CG) by 0.6 to 1.1 meters above the wagon bed. A higher center of gravity drastically reduces the static stability factor (SSF = T / 2h). During downhill swerves or lateral sliding, the tipping moment from the centrifugal force (m v² / R) and the slope tilt angle can induce a rollover at lateral accelerations as low as 0.28 g.