2004 driver's door lock broke

So I park on the driveway and my manual door lock won't lift up. Since the key wouldn't work either, I had to climb out the window and since I have more of a pony keg than a six pack, that was fun. :/ I found a video online which had this problem (broken spring) and he fixed it by removing the driver's seat to partially remove the inner door panel with the door still locked shut.
Well being kind of a pack rat, the extended cab is pretty full and removing the driver's seat would be a yuge pain. Anybody know a slim jim trick for the driver's side door?

 

Could be the spring but also could be the door handle itself. There is a arm/lever on top of the handle on the inside. If the ear breaks off of the handle it will not let the door unlock. Working on one as I type this, only way to open door is remove seat, door panel. Push up on main latch rod with a screw driver so the lock mech. will rotate and unlock. Good luck..........

 

well, I got a latch at picknpull $23, I hope its not the handle that is broken. Looks like there's no way to tell before you wrassle out the seat and door panel off. Hmmm maybe worth it find a handle before I take on purging the xtra cab to get the seat out.
Any hope that a slim jim can lift the main latch rod now that you've spent some time with it? I know there's sheet metal boxy thing on hte window glass guide which could block the way though.
Thanks for the tip.

 

Well I got the wrong year latch but after following the video in the link below I found it was a broken spring . Not have the right latch means I did not have the right spring either so I bent me a new hook end on the old spring. It works. Maybe I will find a proper year latch with a better spring as it is not nearly as hard to replace when you can open hte door without having to remove the driver's seat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcYaJKlhX5s