Toyota Highlander five-year exterior mod review

Tom lays out the 18 exterior modifications he made to his Toyota Highlander over five years, reports which held up, which failed, and which he would recommend today. He emphasizes long-term durability (many items have been installed for 3.5–5 years), functionality (no sensor interference), and family use (running boards). Below are the 18 mods with Tom's short verdicts and the evidence he cites.

1. Blacked-out center grill 'wing' — cosmetic chrome delete; durable.
2. Blacked-out Toyota emblem (vinyl) — held up ~3.5–4 years; 'no issues' with the sensor.
3. Front bumper valence (from a car trim home) — adds aggressive look; no problems.
4. Toyota OEM hood deflector / bug shield — Tom: 'minimized at least 80% if not more' of bug splatter; recommended (Canada-only source noted).
5. Laminx PPF on headlight — protection advised because fourth-gen headlights have baked-in LEDs (entire assembly would need replacement if cracked).
6. Vivid smoked PPF on amber reflectors (cut with 3M knifeless tape) — stealth look; positive.
7. Diode Dynamics Elite Series fog lights (yellow) — improved visibility in rain/snow; 'highly recommend.'
8. OEM black covers ('attitude black') replacing white trim — liked for finish and subtle sparkle in sunlight.
9. LED sequential turn lights — motion effect; no defects after five years.
10. Hyperdip (shadow black) over some emblems — temporary finish; begins to peel after pressure washing; cosmetic flexibility (can peel to reveal blue hybrid badge).
11. WeatherTech window deflectors / bug guards — Tom 'would definitely recommend'; allow windows down at 60 mph without full wind blast.
12. OEM running boards — installed mainly for family/elders/kids; Tom 'highly recommend' for accessibility and to keep door sills cleaner.
13. Aftermarket Aotec coma crossbars — initially attractive (chrome, lock caps, claimed 260 pounds static capacity) but chrome flaked, rusted in key lock and warped; Tom: 'would not suggest' these.
14. (Plan) Replace crossbars with Yakima jet streams — planned in a future video.
15. OEM tow hitch — preferred for flush OEM look; recommended.
16. Rear chrome accents (double-sided tape) — cheap enhancement; some fit/trim work required from Cartroom Home overlay (L was too long, Tom trimmed it).
17. LED replacement bulbs — tried 'last fit' (hyper-flashing) then settled on Oxido LED bulbs 'part number 7440'; running strong ~1.5 years.
18. Michelin cross-climate twos (tires) — Tom 'highly recommend'; display the 'three peaks snowflake' rating and performed well in mountain passes without chains.
19. Red Line Tuning hood struts — 'worked perfectly' since installation (~2 years); Tom 'highly recommend' these for durability over cheaper alternatives.

Overall: Tom endorses protective items (PPF, hood deflector), visibility upgrades (Diode Dynamics fogs, Oxido LEDs), family-friendly hardware (OEM running boards, tow hitch), and tires (Michelin CrossClimate 2). He warns against the Aotec chrome crossbars and notes temporary nature of hyperdip coatings. He links prior installation/unboxing videos in the description for specifics and replacement sources where available.