Category: travel

Hey, it’s Pp the van with a little update!

Due to the weather, Jg’s health, parts delays, and other issues, I haven’t had a lot of work done. Here’s a quote from the one and only Jg himself.

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“”​ Well, some parts in the front-end kit were wrong. The van I’m working on has a 4,000 lb weight capacity, whereas most are 3,500 lb. I’ve learned the hard way to always double-check and ask for the heavy-duty versions, but I thought they were included in this kit. Now, I’ve had to order $100 worth of the correct parts—four of them total—which should be here Tuesday. It’s always something, right?​

To make matters worse, I was trying to loosen a stuck part on Friday using a sledgehammer and a ball joint removal tool. I was starting to get tired, my hand slipped, and I hit my thumb joint right where it connects to the hand. It’s swollen, bruised, and hurts just to look at it; I’m lucky I didn’t break it. Since it’s my left hand, that’s at least one small plus. ​

On top of the injury, I came down with a stomach bug and chest congestion Friday night that lasted all through yesterday. I still had to drag myself out to press a part back on so I could return a $200 rental tool, but I couldn’t get much else done. I’m still feeling sick and the thumb is throbbing, but I’m going to try to do some prep work on the front end this afternoon Sunday February 8 so I’m ready for when those parts arrive on Tuesday.​Nothing is ever easy, but that’s just my life. I’m used to it now!“”

“”

There is good weather coming, my parts are on the way and Jg is doing all he can to be healthy and ready and back at getting me on the road.

Until we talk again—live life your way, happy and as content as possible.PP and the PPT Posse

“Hey, wait a sec! Jg loves reading your comments, so don’t forget to drop one below—it really lets him know you enjoy the posts. Also, look out for the new Facebook Like and Dislike buttons right under the pictures!”

Ty ☺️ Pp the van.

My release date from this Alabama prison has been pushed back—probably to the end of March.

Alright, I’m being a little dramatic 🙄. It’s not really prison, but I agree with JG… it feels like we’re stuck here.I’ve got a lot of respect for JG’s resilience. Even with all the setbacks—health stuff and personal issues—he keeps pushing forward. While putting in the front shocks and fighting with the alignment, he figured out the real issue was worn front-end parts. So he went ahead and ordered everything to freshen up the whole front suspension. That knocked my build fund back about $250 in parts, which isn’t easy on him, especially at his age and with his health. But doing it himself will save around $2,500, so it’s still a win in the long run.

JG’s also dealing with the reality of turning 60 in less than 20 days. On his dad’s side, most of the men in his family didn’t make it past around 72, and that weighs on him. Still, he keeps a positive attitude. He puts a lot of pressure on himself to get me road-ready so he can start the next chapter—traveling and enjoying life with the rest of the PPT Posse.Me? I’m just ready to feel my tires rolling on the asphalt already.

Until we talk again—live life your way, happy and as content as possible.

PP and the PPT Posse

Well, the second week of 2026 has come and gone.
The PPT Posse has been trying to get me worked on, but it’s been a real struggle—from bad weather and the sick bug going around to problems, parts setbacks, and unforeseens. JG and the posse did get my butt lift done with air shocks, so now I don’t look like I’m dragging my butt going down the road.
JG is still working on my front shocks. They’re installed now; it’s just a matter of aligning my front wheels so I don’t drive like a drunk person. JG could just take me to a shop, but he doesn’t trust just anyone to touch me. Me? Well… never mind, lol.
By doing the work himself—just the shocks alone—the alignment would have cost $300–$400 in labor. As his grandfather always said, a penny saved is worth more than a dollar earned.
It’s going to be a cold one this coming week, so it’ll be hard to get a lot done on me, especially in the early mornings.
Until we speak again, live life your way—happy and as content as can be.
Pp
and the PPT Posse

Project Purple Passion

(Pp) Status Update, summarizing the progress over the last two weeks, focusing on critical mechanical fixes and weight-reduction measures, as well as the ongoing exterior build.

1. Mechanical Recovery and Performance After facing severe issues with misfiring and almost no fuel pressure, the problem with Pp (1999 Dodge Ram Van 2500, 5.2L) was ultimately resolved. Diagnostics led to checking the fuel pump, ECM, and finally, replacing two faulty spark plug wires.

* Status:

Pp is now running exceptionally well, better than ever before.

2. Weight Reduction and Structural Work A major weight loss initiative was undertaken after discovering Pp was significantly overweight for legal road operation.

* Front-End Reduction: The extended front bumper, winch, and two auxiliary batteries were removed, saving approximately 300 lbs. A total of 1000 lbs was initially removed to get the van under the legal limit.

* exterior Weight-Saving:

Further weight reduction was achieved by replacing heavy exterior boards (originally 49 lbs) with much lighter alternatives (now 5 lbs).

​This week October 20 -25

will be focused on finishing the sealing and painting of the lighter boards. I’ll also be finishing the back door to hold the spare tire and building a bay window. The bay window will be in the bathroom in the very back of PP. Finally, the wiring hooking up the back driving lights needs to be secured, and the turn signal relay needs to be replaced since it only works half the time.

And so much more to do.

Ty

Jg and the Ppt posse

Two Weeks of Highs and Lows

Well, what a two weeks it’s been.

I was driving Pp the van when she started missing more and more, to the point she almost couldn’t pull herself. I made it home, figuring the problem was from water that had gotten into her gas tank.

The next day, she wouldn’t even crank would turn over. I started diagnosing the issue, not knowing where that road would lead me. First, I put a tester on the fuel rail and found no fuel pressure at all. Okay, I thought the fuel filter was clogged. Nope—my 1999 Dodge Ram Van 2500 with the 5.2L engine (Miss Pp) is too good to have an external fuel filter.

Next, I figured the fuel pump must have gone bad. I tested it and found no power going to the fuel pump. I was like, “What the fuck Pp, why are you acting out?” I checked all the fuses and relays; they were good. I just stood there and looked at her, “You damn bad girl.”

So, I asked God—oh, I mean, Google—what was up with my bad, bitchy girl. Google said it was her brain: the ECM (Engine Control Module). There’s a safety feature that cuts the ground to the fuel pump if the van rolls over or the engine stops turning. That sparked some major PTSD and bad anxiety. I had previously spent months and went through six rebuilt ECMs just to get a good one for her.

After cursing her out and feeling like setting her on fire, I did more Googling and found I didn’t have to buy a new ECM; I could get a bypass switch. I ordered the bypass switch and a new fuel pump. I removed her fuel tank, got it cleaned out, and reinstalled it with the new pump and bypass kit.

Pp cranked right up, but she still had a bad miss. “Still a bad van, what now?” I thought maybe the bad gas had ruined her fuel injectors and plugs, so I changed them. More money spent. Still, the bad girl was missing.

Back to testing everything. I was listening to her and she was popping like electric cracking. Well, it turned out she had two bad spark plug wires. Replaced the wires, and she cranked and is now running like new!

I took her to fuel up, and she had to show out one more time. She wouldn’t take the gas to the tank. “W.T.F. now, Pp?” It turns out I had to apologize to her: I had left a baggie in the fuel pipe that I used to keep trash and water out of the tank until it was put back in. Well, now she is truly running like a brand new girl!

The Weight Loss Plan

I took her back to feed her, and all seemed good, but she felt a little heavy. I ran her across the scales and, sure enough, she was 70 lb over her limit. That shouldn’t be!

I came home and cried. She can’t legally run down the road overweight. I spent the rest of the day sick and ready to give up on her and the dream.

The next day, after racking my brain, I came up with a plan: a massive weight-loss program.

I started by cutting off her “nose job,” which meant removing the extended front bumper, the winch, and the two batteries used to run it. That alone took off 300 lb. Then, I took all the tools, supplies, and some other stuff out of her. I got her 1000 lb lighter in total.

So now, I have to come up with a plan on how to finish building her and put all our necessary stuff back in. The original plan was to travel light, only carrying a week’s worth of supplies and just the basic things we need to live. By returning to the original plan, I’m ready to start Monday, getting back to finishing her build.

What a roller coaster Miss Pp took me on.

Thanks for reading.

Jg and the Ppt posse

KRose, Tippy, Louie

Visit to Holly Pond Alabama

For Sale: original $35 before i put in my store Tad.jgartis.com $45 afterwards plus shipping, Print mounted on wood panel! print will have photo of painting and story side by side. $25 plus shipping. Interested Email: painting@jgartis.com

A quick 1 hour painting of the park bench in Holly Pond, Al. Pp took me and the posse out for an early lunch. very nice and quite park with a spring feed pond from the 1800’s.

https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/holly-pond

In the image above of the front side of Pp i painted a Qr code that when you point your phone camera at it, it brings up the link “url” to Pptl.jgartis.com

I also have updated the Ppt website and blog page.

let me know below in the comments what you like, dislike and suggestions.

Ty Jg and the Ppt posse

I did a video explaining the parts that make up Pp power setup.

Trying to start doing a weekly update video, update on my health and plans for next week.

installed new water pump, radiator, fixed the leak and smell of antifreeze yeah!!!