Leaf trap!

So, I just get done cleaning my truck the other day and with the door open, I see a small leaf stem sticking through this small hole at the bottom front of the door closure area.

I pulled the cover back where I noticed the leaf stem, and started pulling out all kinds of crap that apparently found its way down there from the cowl area. I couldn't quite get it all cleaned out from this side, so I went behind the front wheel and found that the cover on the other side could be pulled back, and got the rest of it cleaned out. There was a large handful of wet leaves & debris on both sides of the truck. It was pretty nasty and I'm glad I found this nasty spot that needs occasional cleaning.
But first, a pic of my clean truck.



Access from lower front door area



Access from lower rear wheelwell area

 

Good find and thanks for getting the word out. Really nice regular cab truck that you have.

Please tell me about the step rails that you have.

 

Thanks Scott! The steps are N-Fab. IIRC, they were around $350 from Running Board Warehouse. They are my second set, I also had them on my 2011. Like them really well. My wife is handicapped, so she actually needs them to get in & out of the truck. I am taller, so I generally don't use them getting in & out.

 

BTW: How are you liking your Michelins? I've been thinking about getting those, probably this fall.

 

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I have a '13 regular cab that my daughter drives. The steps would be useful for her.

 

Nothing but great things to say about the Michelins. I recommend them.

 

Glad to hear that. Just need to figure out what to do about wheels.
Are those the newer LTX Defender?

 

I had the same issue with my 2005! Saw something one day when washing it, and ended up pulling out 10 years worth of leaves and crap! Just bought a used 2015, time to take a look at it!

 

No, actually they are the M/S 2's. I have the Michelins on my '11 DCSB.

I found some 3rd Gen TRD OR wheels for my '13 regular cab. FWIW, I think they'd look great on your truck.

 

Man I bet you regular cab guys get great mileage. Plus you have a full sized bed!

 

Not as much as you might think. I don't usually check my mileage, but when I do (wow, this is sounding like a Dos Equis meme), it's usually in the realm of 25-ish highway/city. I could even squeeze that out of my 2014 RCSB Ram (RIP) if I babied it, but was enjoying a full-size truck with 395 hp with that. I think most regular cab Taco buyers are buying for the love of the regular cab or price, definitely not mileage.

 

The leaves getting caught in the fender is by design. It's a little known composting option that Toyota offers.

 

I love my DCSB. But I really miss my RC sometimes.

 

I do miss the little bit of inside storage area of the Ram reg. cab. I could put a reasonable amount of stuff behind the seat, like from a small grocery run or what have you. But the Taco has essentially zero usable space behind the seats, which makes it difficult. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have opted for a access cab. But at the time I got it, I was thinking I wanted to park it inside a 20' garage. My Ram barely fit, so I figured the Taco would give me a bit more room to park. It did, but it came at a cost.

 

I use my shop vac periodically and suck that debris out.

 

Good idea, for some reason that didn't even dawn on me to use the shop vac.

Sounds like there are quite a few ppl who were aware of this "compost bin".

 

Just checked my truck both sides found nothing
I did notice that in your picture that you don't have mudflaps. On my 4x4 access cab I do and they completey cover the indide of the wheel well in front of the location you identified on your truck . My truck in kept outside year round but thanks for the heads up about a potential problem
TOMB

 

Interesting! Anyone else care to weigh-in on this? Perhaps this is something caused by removing the mudflaps? That would kill my theory that the debris are finding their way down from the cowl area.

 

Leaves were in my "compost bins" before I removed the mud flaps, they come down from the cowl area.

 

That spot is a big pita!
I use a shop-vac in there with a little help from a plastic clip remover to loosen the crap.