About Niel Cabrera
Niel Cabrera, or @tacomakoma to his followers, is an off-roading fanatic and weekend overlander who’s built one serious Tacoma TRD Pro. Based in Florida, Niel spends a lot of his free time testing his truck and himself on some pretty unforgiving trails. By day, he’s a Vice President at Fisher Investments, but come the weekend, he’s out there getting his rig into (and out of) some wild places.
Niel’s Rig
He chose the TRD Pro model four years ago because it had solid features from the start, like the 360° camera. Plus, he knew he could sell the stock parts he replaced to offset costs, and the resale value was a huge bonus. Since then, though, it’s become a whole different machine.
Niel’s Tacoma is built to handle just about anything. He’s running a long-travel suspension setup from Total Chaos with front coilovers, secondary bypass shocks, and 2.5 x 12" rear shocks from King Shocks—so when he’s crawling over rocks or pushing through tough trails, the suspension keeps everything stable. The truck is lifted with a bit of extra clearance, thanks to a body lift from Toytec Lifts, and geared down to 5.29 with Nitro Gears, which helps keep those massive 37” Nitto Trail Grapplers moving smoothly.
Up front, Niel’s added an SSO Slimline Tube Bumper, giving his Tacoma the rugged look he wants and the solid protection he needs on the trail. The bumper is built to take on rough terrain, giving him confidence on technical sections where clearance and durability are everything. Whether he’s pushing up a rocky incline or handling sharp descents, it’s a feature that just works.
Niel’s build focuses on both traction and stability. He’s swapped the factory wheels for Fuel beadlocks and reinforced things with Deaver leaf springs for a tougher rear end. And when he’s deep into the trails, he’s got a Warn winch setup—one on the front and another in the back—just in case he needs to pull himself or others out.
Niel’s not all about hitting obstacles, though. His truck is set up for longer trips, too, with an Overlander tent from James Baroud and a 270° awning, giving him a comfy setup for multi-day trips. He’s got a dual battery system to power his gear, a fridge to keep food fresh, and a ton of recovery gear and tools. Niel even thought of communication, adding both Midland and Icom radios, so he’s set for staying in touch when he’s way off-grid.
What Makes Niel Unique
What’s cool about Niel is how real he is with his followers. He’s not just posting highlights—he shares the messy parts too, the parts of off-roading that don’t always go to plan. He’s open about what he’s learned, what’s worth investing in, and what he might change. His truck reflects the balance he’s found between wanting a rugged off-roader and a solid overlanding rig. And his followers? They appreciate him for it because he’s just out there doing what he loves and helping others along the way.
Sign Up for Exclusive Perks
By signing up under Niel’s program, you’ll earn a discount code on future purchases from Southern Style OffRoad. It’s our way of helping you gear up for your own adventures while supporting Niel’s incredible journey.