I went around and around with the SOS offices in Lansing, Mason, and Jackson, with multiple calls to the HQ office. HQ told me one thing and the offices wouldn't follow what HQ said only what they have in their books.
Basically it boiled down to get a historical plate and be limited in where I can drive it or get the GVW plate due to weight/class. Since I wanted to use it for camping, Silver Lake, and cruising around town as well as parades the historical plate wouldn't work as I didn't want to stretch "club activities".
Here is the law I found that backed up what the offices were telling me:
MCL 257.801 Part 1 k:
(k) For each truck weighing 8,000 pounds or less towing a trailer or any other combination of vehicles and for each truck weighing 8,001 pounds or more, road tractor or truck tractor, except as provided in subdivision (j) according to the following schedule of elected gross weights:
Elected gross weight Tax
0 to 24,000 pounds.............................. $ 491.00
24,001 to 26,000 pounds......................... 558.00
26,001 to 28,000 pounds......................... 558.00
28,001 to 32,000 pounds......................... 649.00
So since my GVW is 23000lbs (13000 truck + 10000 load capacity) I had to get the commercial GVW plate with the 24000 sticker for $491 a year.
They did neglect to tell me that the GVW plates expire in February, so I had to go back and get it exchanged for a 6 month tag and will have to go back in December for a 2 month.
My insurance is through State Farm, because of weight the policy is "commercial" at $40 a month.
Would love to not pay almost $500 a year for registration but don't see much of a way around it.
ETA: Link to the full law for the above excerpt :
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-257-801