Locations to check for rust or debris that will cause rust

Does anyone have favorite spots to check for rust on their Tacoma? I was working on mine the other day, had the driver side door open and noticed some leaves coming out from under some plastic. There is a cavity that starts behind the front mud flap and continues behind the front quarter panel and ends with a black plastic trim piece that is visible when you open the door. Mine was packed full of leaves and dirt that somehow traveled from the front wheel well, behind the mud flap to be trapped in that cavity. I'll take pics to better show where it is. I spent over an hour cleaning out the driver and passenger side cavities.

 

Yeah, that is common for stuff to pile up there. Not a fan of it either.

 

They call that area the dog leg on here. Don’t ask me why ? Doesn’t look like a dog leg to me either. Its a standard spot to hit with the shop vac in the spring and late fall after the leaves have fallen.

 

Take off your tailgate plastic and look inside at the bottom. There’s drains spaced like 8” apart or so. It they get clogged up with debris and it stays moist causing rust along the bottom

also the floor has plugs scattered about, they rust around the edges