i see you are from illinois. i am from indiana and i have 11k lbs. plates on mine so i dont have to have emission tests. definete plus! i am also in the process of redoing my exhaust. right now i only have a sh*ty cat on it with a turndown in front of the rear tire. it is loud and i have set off car alarms driving in downtown areas. i am planning on getting new pipes from the header back and eliminating the cat and putting on a full exhaust all the way back. the reason is, when i take the turndown off for wheelin', i get the exhaust fumes in the cab cause there is nowhere for it to go but up. ( i also burned a rust hole in the floor board where the cat exits cause it got so hot and i had to patch it.
so to answer your question of whether it is a good idea to dump it, i would say NO. just keep it running out the back so you dont have to worry about snuffin' fumes.
and to ROBZ95Xj - it might be illegal (noise and emissions)in NH but in some states it isn't. just so you know for future references