Yeah, that felt was not one of Ford's "better ideas". I live at the end of a mile and a half unmaintained road (aka dirt, dust, mud, snow depending on the weather conditions.) It is nearly impossible to get all the pine needles and mud cleaned off. It's like trying to keep dog hair off/out of...
I agree with you regarding tires/vehicle weight combination. I'm a displaced AZ desert rat living in northeast WA. I also live in a "snow belt" (didn't know that term before moving here.) We've always run Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires on our trucks and the Jeep Cherokee Sport I moved here...