Cradles are an interesting solution, I've seem some YouTube videos. I think they are to re-gain travel so removing the tear issue of over travel but does it protect against blowout? I think it would open up more to a slam down type of blowout?
The side to side sway of rock crawling with a heavy payload also gives the over pressures on a single airbag when bouncing along?
Sort of like low-riders hopping, those pressures kill the air-bag off road. (Let alone all the other possibilities of tears for other reasons).
I guess Cradles will support the sides to a point because they act like a Cup...but like you said how much still a question?
I think they are really meant to just regain some travel?
Don't get me wrong, bags are a good solution for many reasons, specifically if you don't install the FWC full time and want a better unloaded ride, it's my opinion not the optimal solution for extreme off road.
People need to really think about how they intend to use the FWC setup and be honest with the payloads and how much stress the bags can really take with the payloads under off road conditions.
My guess is that most Tacoma PUs are at or over the GVWR with a FWC...and that's the risk we accept with our mid-size trucks...There are plenty of threads on this topic on this forum in fact...
When I was designing my suspension I was looking for BAJA action with 1100+ payload and hard rock-crawling with the same payload and travel to allow for 33" tires. In my research I just couldn't find myself trusting airbags. Every airbag manufacturer calls out never overloading and only for leveling to GVWR, assuming on-road use only. In fact Air Springs even states it voids warranty to install on a modified off-road vehicle.
I live by Lone Pine and know Cerro Gordo RD. I wouldn't do it with street tires and/or airbags...LOL...there are sections that will get that payload swaying and tire eating rocks...
So, my build, rear suspension, I went with Custom 9 leaf no overload progressive Spring Pack (Working with a local spring shop), sway-a-ways (for roll), hydraulic
bump stops and detachable sway bars.
I've done AK wilderness, Moab Rock crawling, desert open tracks at ridiculous unsafe speeds, Smokey Mountain Muddy Forest, and miles of on-road crazy weather driving with my FWC installed and with the stock aluminum turnbuckles no lock nuts. Never had a problem.
(However, since being a part of this forum and reading about several issues with turnbuckles, I've upgraded and added lock nuts just this year...
)
All this is just my opinion... putting this out there, I found it very interesting the article called out the loss of an airbag, and I've read many times on forums of loss of airbags...I'm sure on that road the Tacoma was bottoming out with the lost airbag putting added stress on those turnbuckles...