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Current Project Partners
Lakeshore of West Michigan, Reece LaPerriere Photography
The Crossover Project
The Crossover Project
Turning my everyday 3rd Gen Toyota RAV4 into a dedicated Northern Michigan basecamp. Funded entirely through commercial media trades.
The College Budget Overland Build
The College Budget Overland Build
There is a massive misconception in the outdoor community that you need an $80,000 truck on 35-inch tires to get off the grid. The Crossover Project is out to prove otherwise.
I am turning my daily driver—a 2009 3rd Generation Toyota RAV4 Limited—into a solo overland rig capable of disappearing into the Upper Peninsula at a moment's notice. This car started as a $4,000 neighborhood find with 120k miles, deer collision damage, and rust belt wear. After hundreds of hours of mechanical work, suspension overhauls, and the beginning of some custom fabrication, it has began its adventure to become the ultimate underdog build.
But outfitting an overland rig is incredibly expensive, and I am building this on a realistic budget. Instead of buying every part, I am funding this entire project through a barter economy: trading my skills as a commercial photographer for the gear required to build the car. The parts aren't a handout; they are the paycheck.
The Platform
The Platform
Every modification is designed for maximum utility, stealth camping, and supporting off-grid exploration.
The Platform: 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited 2.5L (3rd Gen) (I eventually intend to seek out a clean V6, likely after college.)
The Bed: Custom-built twin single frame platform topped with a 3-inch memory foam mattress. The platform has hinges for instant access to hidden camera and camp storage below.
Off-Grid Power: Jackery 1500 v2, supplying power for media editing, laptop, camera batteries, onewheel, and a diesel heater or heater blanket depending on the weather.
Roof System: Thule WingBar Evo system carrying a Thule Motion XT XL cargo box for overflow gear and recovery mats provided by X-Bull Auto.
Trail Scouting: Onewheel XL kept charged and loaded at all times for exploring two-tracks and trails the crossover cannot clear.
Partner with The Crossover Project
Partner with The Crossover Project
This build relies on collaborating with brands that value high-quality, authentic storytelling. I am not an influencer looking for free handouts; I am a commercial content creator offering a professional media trade.
When you sponsor parts for The Crossover Project, you are commissioning a commercial photographer. I shoot with top-tier production equipment, including a Sony a7R V, lenses, a DJI Gimbal, 360 cameras, and a drone setup.
What Brands Receive in a Media Trade:
A full gallery of high-resolution, commercial-grade lifestyle photos.
Vertical, fast-paced social media videos optimized for Reels, TikTok, and Shorts.
Authentic integration into The Crossover Project build series.
Full rights to use the assets for your e-commerce listings (Amazon, Shopify), website banners, and paid social media ad campaigns.
If you manufacture lighting, recovery gear, off-grid power, or overland accessories and need professional assets of your products being pushed to the limit in the Michigan backcountry, let's work together.
The Creator & Project
The Creator & Project
About Me
I’m Reece LaPerriere, a Traverse City-based commercial photographer, college student, and the creator behind The Crossover Project. Long before I started modifying the this 17-year-old legendary crossover, my background has been deeply rooted in a mix of outdoor adventure, travel, and visual storytelling.
The Media Production
Under Reece LaPerriere Photography and my outdoor media project dontforgetyourmittens, I specialize in producing commercial lifestyle content and user-generated media. My work spans across the everyday carry (EDC), precision manufacturing, technical apparel, and outdoor equipment industries. I don’t just shoot snapshots; I build full commercial media packages. Running a heavy-hitting loadout—including a Sony a7R V, an arsenal of specialized lenses, aerial drone setups, DJI gimbals, and action rigs like the GoPro Hero 13 Black and Insta360 X5—allows me to deliver high quality assets. This exact technical production capability is what empowers me to fund this entire overland build strictly through media trades.
The Engineering & The Build
I’m not just a photographer slapping parts on a car. Between studying Marine Technology, computer-aided design, building complex mechanical assemblies in SolidWorks, and programming microcontrollers in school, I apply a hands-on, engineered approach to everything I do. Whether I'm running diagnostics on drivetrains across PWC's, maintaining my own vehicles, or fabricating custom sleep platforms for this RAV4, I do the manual labor myself. I believe in understanding the gear I run inside and out, which is why brands trust me to showcase their parts being pushed to the limit in real-world scenarios.
The Lifestyle
The Crossover Project is a direct reflection of how I actually live. I’ve worked in the lifestyle clothing industry for over 3 years, I actively compete in Onewheel enduro races across multi-stage events like the WinMan Enduro, and I spend my downtime distance running, surfing, skiing, and hiking the deep trails of Northern Michigan.
This vehicle isn’t a prop for social media—it’s a necessary tool. It is the basecamp that gets me, my camera gear, and my Onewheel further off the map to capture the stories, trails, and brands I care about.
Check
Out
The
Series
Recent Adventures
Winchester Wisconsin, Copper Harbor Michigan, Lac Le Belle Michigan
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