I Drove 4,000 MILES FOR THIS! The CRAZIEST Thing I Have Ever Done (Will We Make It Home?!)

I fly home to New Hampshire, to embark on a 4,000 mile road trip across America with my father, to pick up a vehicle I had never seen in person before. This is by far the craziest thing I have ever done. An hour long, make some coffee, or some popcorn, and enjoy this wild ride!
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John Ludwick Jr
PO Box 15185
Red Bank, TN 37415

[@JohnLudwick]

No spoilers!! 😂

[@toomanycars4800]

Yeah, I suppose it would look a bit silly with a roof spoiler?😆

[@trblsom77]

@@toomanycars4800 ..maaaybe a front lip spoiler?

[@paulbainbridge6425]

Not if he copies a Leyland cheetah rear end

[@charleswilliams8197]

One thing about New Hampshire and that is in the Fall it's a very beautiful state because of the trees and the colors they are so very beautiful yes indeed it is so very true folks don't know how spring looks at the beginning becalls i have not been back up north okay the snow keeps me down here in Florida for real now you hear later

[@ken14850]

that dodge can bring 20k finished

[@hem1kat]

You’re are so exceptionally lucky to be able to spend this time with your dad. Really been enjoying your content

[@oheymikey1017]

This. Cherish those moments.

[@JohnLudwick]

I absolutely agree. And thank you!

[@Blitz9287]

100% I'd give anything to spend another day with my dad.

[@SteveOverman-ou3my]

Need some cheese to go with that wine 😂

[@oheymikey1017]

@@SteveOverman-ou3my wut

[@KFC1]

That’s going to need a lot of beetle pans.

[@JohnLudwick]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@joselinares-eu7mc]

Your Dad is from the BEST generation...DAMN I MISS MY POPS-YET HE'S WITH ME EVERYDAY 🎉😊

[@rogercoffin7252]

John my dad drove the exact same flex home when I was ten years old and little by little we converted to a motorhome for our vacation time into Canada to Florida and all the way to Guadalajara Mexico and we were remembers of the Family Motor Coach Association I’m now 73 years old best of luck to you and your father so many memories for me thanks soooo much for sharing this!!!!

[@twocupstwodrams7535]

My great uncle worked for Flexible in Loudonville, Ohio in the 40’s to the 60’s. He made 1/2 size wood models for pre-production engineers. He also made the wood bucks for the sheet metal smiths. My father worked there one year (to play basketball) and did sheet metal work. My father joined the Navy during WW II and was an aviation metal smith in Alameda, CA and Guam. Thank you for sharing. My great uncle Lester played a big role in the design of your bus.

[@JohnLudwick]

Wow, that is amazing! Incredibly cool hearing that story! I would love to acquire more Flxible memorabilia from when it was built.

[@bigospig]

I just found your channel thanks to the algorithm recommendation for this video. As a retired state trooper, I was cringing when you and your dad were on the side of the road doing repairs. It's good to see him wearing the safety vest and being as safe as he can. Looking forward to going through and watching your other videos!

[@nujayfabrication8089]

Dude !! Your pops looks so happy man . Like he literally lives for these adventures with you . The bus is gonna be so badass

[@billfaria4317]

Dad is an absolute legend

[@streettruckin785]

lol I literally have driven by that bus a 101 time and thought about asking about it several times. Glad to see it’s going to be saved. It’s a beautiful work of art.

[@Eighty6arage]

So cool that you’re dad is down for all of this!

[@martinbuysabus932]

I enjoyed this. I bought an old Wanderlodge 12 years ago and flew out and drove it 3000 miles home. It was a very eventful trip. I have worked on it ever since and just finished repowering it which was a three year project. I bought a Freightliner Century for the drivetrain, and dismantled it and saved and used everything down to wiring harness and nuts and bolts.My suggestion to you would buy a complete Topkick and salvage the Duramax, the Allison transmission and also the axles. If you use one donor vehicle everything plays well together and you will spend much less time chasing unobtainable parts.

[@ansairoddbod]

Love your work John. Welcome to the clipper owners club! Best vehicle on the road! Can’t wait to see what you do with it. From the Flxible Clipper club of Australia!

[@dolmio_sauce]

Your fathers bad ass. From the fire prevention invention to the quick thinking fix of the trailor. What a sick project too

[@space-pop3527]

I wish I had a similar relationship with my dad that you have with yours! My dad was a WWII veteran, infantry Sargent, but a hard man. I am 75 and miss him. I just found your video and was hooked on a number of levels. I helped my daughter buy a bus conversion which she left on my land when she moved to another state with her husband. It needs work but I am not able to do it anymore. Loved starting with her, and maybe some day she can finish it with her son. Thanks for the memory connections.

[@PennyGarage]

This is absolutely unreal!! I cant wait to see what you do with it. You and your Dad are a great team its so nice to see!!

[@LOWBIMMER323i]

Only 5 minutes into the video and your Dad is awesome! My Dad is the same way! Back to the video… 🤙

[@smartintan]

The front end on that bus is so cool.

[@JoeDuran-z5h]

Your Dad is one hell of a Man!!!! All my respect, and one bad ass bus.. Joe Duran

[@808v1]

the art deco influenced styling is phenomenal, what a great example of design, workmanship and badassery :)

[@anthonysmith9308]

You should talk with Bus Grease Monkey. He has a whole KZbin channel working and renovating old buses. He may have a few pointers for you.

[@rhegafd]

What a beast this things going to be when its done. I cannot... CANNOT wait to see it done.

[@h12st_d63]

Undeniably the most underrated channel on KZbin, congrats on the new build and some core memories with your dad!

[@timsminigarage]

We had a Clipper bus for our wedding. It was fully restored and luxury inside with a bar fridge & cold drinks. The guy had a few of them and at least 2 fully restored ones (Clipper Limousines) Can’t wait to see how you go with it!

[@dommoss4264]

Your dad’s great, and you are both mega resourceful. Can’t wait to see it in action.

[@Will_Brock]

I don’t know how I’ve never seen your channel before, love your builds, love this concept. I am so on board and subscribed.

[@joelwandimi6962]

Man, I am smiling all the way through. To do such a crazy drive with your dad is a blessing. The bus is unbelievably cool. Right up your alley❤

[@kirklewis3575]

Refreshed KZbin so many times and it was worth it!! Didn’t expect a bus😂 Love from SA🇿🇦

[@JohnLudwick]

Thank you!!

[@stanceworks]

Been waiting for this one! Stoked to settle in and enjoy. That fire lance your father made is sick!

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks, Mike! I appreciate all of the frequent words of motivation and encouragement; they are often needed haha

[@waterlover]

Hell yeah a pops road trip and we get to see the cab over what else can we want. Enjoy your dad for every second you have him here on earth. Much respect 🫡

[@ronaldsnell1503]

YOU & YOUR DAD ARE AMAZING 😮

[@greggleonard5166]

That’s the wildest addition to an already crazy fleet of vehicles. Very lucky to be able to share that with your dad too! Can’t wait as always to see what you do to this. 🤙🏼

[@BigKittysCorner]

The bus is sick man. Always loved doing crazy road trips with my friends to get cars. Look forward to seeing the eventual bus build videos!

[@315squared4]

I love your dad’s ingenuity and his problem solving skills on the side of the highway.I don’t think a lot of people this day and age have those skills.

[@stuartcturner]

Awesome bus, awesome Dad. Mine would be the same - fully prepared with a well stocked 'if things go wrong toolbox' and not phased by a setback.

[@piasprojects]

John such a wild trip that will last a lifetime! Get some rest and keep knocking out those awesome projects!

[@George-zq2sk]

John! this is the most awesome build! I can't wait to see more on this!

[@Coffeeandbrats]

John, first off dude you have the COOLEST dad ever!!!! Over the last 5.5 years now ive been one the channel he is just down for everything . Secondly, I am so stoked to see what comes of this!!! Very rad man, I hope to see a coffee pot in the merch bus with ice available haha!!

[@lmfarms4611]

I hope you write this down for your kids to read later on! Wish I could have had more time with my father. Beautiful find, can't wait to see how it turns out.

[@bluechristopher7673]

Love it! What a fabulously fantastic new project. So happy you both made it home safely! Keep up the good work and stoked you got to spend time together with your Dad. You can see him in all that you do and you are so lucky to have such a great teacher and father to support you whenever you need the big guns. 💪🏼😉 I’m sure he’s very proud of you too! ❤️

[@rcflyer2000]

This is Awesome that you found and bought this Vintage Bus 😎😎😎 I am looking forward to seeing you build this Bus into a Merch Store in the future!

[@ElliottCollect]

Love it. If anyone can handle a project like this, it's you.

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks Elliott!

[@spoon8682]

This is incredible. I cannot wait to see what comes of this project. Your dad is an actual boss.

[@DeanofMachines]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS THING!!!!!! CONGRATTSSSSS!!!!!

[@edwardhughes3240]

You're Dad is cool! It's pretty obvious how much he loves and supports your endeavors! Eddie

[@garylamb4777]

Go back and get the Van for Dad

[@kaydesign]

Even the bus looks like a big Beetle with a rear engine. Very cool 🏆

[@brianbennett7096]

Came right through backyard.....Scranton, PA. Love your attitude gentleman. My favorite was the old man saying adapt and overcome!!!! Looking forward to the build

[@jamesvesely131]

Absolutely can not wait to see this become a thing! Congrats on the new project. Love this stuff!

[@rafaelrivera9508]

Holy crap dude. I can only imagine that bus on the ground... I'm definitely not missing this build... great video

[@VWunicorn]

Sunday June 30th at 2:48 pm sitting in front of my computer watching your latest video with anticipation and I had to stop half way thru to make a comment. WOW!! John, Holy S@*T I am so freakin excited for you. Congratulations!!! I also have goose bumps. Now back to the video.

[@t4tonka]

What a thing of beauty. Such classy styling. It's gonna be amazing once you've done your thing. It's going to fit in so well with your fleet. Great adventure with your dad too. Even the Indiana roads are part of the story. Really enjoying your content John. It's consistently brilliant mate 👍

[@dustoff1472]

Congratulations. Know how you feel. This is how I felt when I purchased my first 1957 Nomad. Enjoying the channel. Thanks for sharing.

[@travistompkins2752]

Not sure if it ever got the patent it deserved, but we had an extinguisher spike in my volly department about 12 years ago. A few local companies had variations of it, and it saved a few lives! Learned about it in an extracation class when I was 17 or 18! If the patent never came to fruition, I owe your pops, at very least, a nice dinner on the town! Cheers guys!

[@D4VE26]

@3.28 that pic of the shop, wrecker and nomad is just the coolest

[@jeffpope6252]

The bus popped up in my Facebook feed. Looked interesting and captured my attention! So, you have a new subscriber. I greatly have enjoyed both bus videos. Looking forward to this build! This is awesome!

[@alexbliss5927]

Shout out to that Ram truck, what a beast!

[@GrafsGarage3]

Without a doubt the most awesome find out there! An amazing survivor having new life breathed back into it!

[@JohnLudwick]

Dude I can’t believe it!

[@HFV_Junkyardin]

I grew up in Maine till I was 15. Hearing your Dad’s accent sound like home. I’ve completely lost any ounce of the accent I had, and even my Dad has lost most of his, it’s been 19 years since he lived in Maine.

[@MCD1994]

Awesome video. Bad ass bus. But your dad was my favorite part ! Being prepared for anything and thinking way ahead. Really reminded me of my dad. Thank you both for the great content.

[@davidross5169]

Awesome idea on the slamer fore fire under hood,I always had an idea for ice rescue.if someone is out on the ice ,and they fall threw,person or anamal.use a drone,to take a rope,or what ever to grab them.

[@garyowens3687]

My man I see many people trying to start KZbin but they just don’t have the it but you and your dad do. This is my 1st of many videos from you guys, keep up the good work.

[@jayrichart0004]

Being a fire life safety tech, it bewilders me how your dad’s car fire extinguisher is not put into use. That thing is awesome

[@LTscustomgarage]

Oh man! The stories of road side repairs and headaches we've had going through Indiana! Super kool find btw, that bus is killer

[@eirik_halvorsen]

Amazing! I don't think I knew about this channel. But I was glued to watching this video through. Right now I only wish that it was a little older and that I could keep ditching all of today's projects and gone through a whole playlist 👍🤠👌

[@stefanm67]

That was an outstanding video. I really enjoyed it. I almost wish I hadn't seen it so I that could watch it again for the first time.......😂😂😂. You and your dad are so lucky to have shared that experience together. So cool. 🚌 I can't wait to watch the series of how this all develops. Superb content. ❤

[@jeffpitzer8521]

I saw an old GM bus of the same era at a Good Guys show in Texas...very aerodynamic and rounded. It had a big block chevy pushing it...I'd think a Cummins would be the ticket though....

[@resuss999]

Wow so amazing to see a beautiful bus being saved cant wait to see the progress

[@cshevlin]

Wow! Can’t wait to see this project!

[@dexburwell]

Wow ! What da Auto Union !!!! Really didn’t see that coming ….. yep. you’re the man for the job ! This is Alllllll you 👍

[@leighharron]

Strong “I’ll be dipped” vibes!!!

[@isgakederies4193]

Hi,really great content. Truly enjoyed DAD and your journey. Yes what a legend DAD. DAD & SON what a inspiration. 💯%🙏 Love & Respect from Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, South Africa

[@michaelwynn7772]

Wow, amazing video and incredible project. Hope to see it on the road some day.

[@George-zq2sk]

this channel has quickly become my fav channel on youtube!

[@JohnLudwick]

That means so much to me! Thank you!

[@vwjunkie11]

We are definitely kindred spirits dude. I’ve spotted a bus similar to that one here in my hometown in south Florida and I’ve been keeping my eye on it for a few years cuz I’d love to make a bagged rv out of it. Outstanding come up!

[@AGO_412]

Really awesome!!! Can't wait to see what you do with this!!

[@gbraecklein]

DUDE! Even the patina, it’s perfect.

[@BillyJoeJimBob28]

Paint that thing! 🥳

[@steevo910]

I’m always excited for a Ludwick build but this is gonna be so extra sick

[@JohnLudwick]

Thank you!

[@bobtucker8875]

That's cool,it reminds me of the bus that Ray Charles was boarding in the movie Ray an the driver wasn't going to let him on. Ray made up a story about going blind servicing his country,an was aloud to board. Can't wait to see you finish it 😊, great content,an thanks dad as well.

[@ThePolishSausage]

Love that area been going to decades…I play in the PHC on lake Winnie in February

[@thomasobremski]

I am 74 now -u all making good time memories One of mine was in 1976..I saw a large international Metro Step Van -n a field ..I called and end up paying $600. and building my home out of it for wife & one kid..Good times ..Lived on Ca coast in it..Finely ended up diving it to WA where i end up purchase 5ac...to live on..

[@BradK78]

So cool! Cannot wait to see this build!

[@LordVolcombug]

Having been on long road trips I can understand the anxiety of a flat tire but this bus is epic! Look forward to watching what you do to it.

[@cowboyfamilia9607]

I’ve followed you on FB/IG for awhile now… not sure why I wasn’t subscribed on KZbin, but you’re gonna need every subscriber for this one so I’ve subscribed 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 let’s see what this looks like when you’re done ✅

[@JohnLudwick]

Thank you!

[@jonathanburnham627]

Epic trip/adventure with your dad! The previous owner was cool as hell too. What a cool find/story. 👍

[@theroadroamers2618]

I love love love this episode for so many reasons. Some of which are I get see you and your dad. The fact that you were able to fulfill a dream of yours and best of all you got to do it with your dad. Kris and I just spent time together building a deck while Amie and I were there for 8 weeks in New Hampshire and it was a very special and challenging time as well. I will be doing a video on the deck build as well. ❤ Can't wait to see how the bus is coming when we come back to NH next summer!

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

Sand the exterior down. Then use a roller and use very high quality primer. Sand it down. Then mask it in sections. Then spray paint the sections.

[@alexbliss5927]

Lolol, he ain’t painting this thing. You new to the channel?

[@JohnLudwick]

Definitely leaving the patina!

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

@@JohnLudwick You should not because very soon many of the panels will rot. If you want 'patina' give it a few decent coats of sealer and final colour. Then add 'patina'. These busses don't need patina. They are cool in their own right. A well restored vehicle like this are going up in value like crazy. There were only 1000 or so to begin with. How many are left? I bet under 100 in decent shape. This is a short version. So there were like 10 of those? Now you can still find all original stuff for it. Within 10 20 years all of that will be scrapped and gone. Restore to original and that machine can be rented out like you would not believe. It will print you money day in and day out.

[@malcolmgreenhill4955]

That's such a beautiful bus. The build quality looks amazing

[@Alkivar]

as tall as that bus is, i'm amazed you didnt experience any issues with overpasses/wires over any of the route home.

[@JohnSr.Ludwick]

12'6" to the top of the scoop. 13'6" is legal limit.

[@Alkivar]

@@JohnSr.Ludwick from the ground or while on the trailer?

[@JohnLudwick]

Ground to top of scoop was about 12’6” !

[@DeanofMachines]

Merchvan need s podcast table!!!

[@dlyall26]

Those reflective triangles used to be made at Deflect-o corporation there in Castleton, Indiana. They make all the dryer vent hoses and office supplies . I worked there from 1997 to 2008

[@zeroone5097]

Hey John , as a UK viewer i just have to say this is F****N awesome , they made some beautiful vehicles back then , needless to say early UK buses looked way cooler aswell but this is next level , ty for the vid , best wishes from the east coast England

[@LOWBIMMER323i]

Your Dad is on air too! Love it!

[@shellporter2845]

That is a beautiful sight, I would love to see this on the road.

[@darrellroeters4951]

New it had to be large. The coolest bus design I’ve seen.

[@james94582]

Love these old busses... Look forward to seeing what you do to it... I've been looking for one on the east coast to slowly build up for a RV for the family.. Especially with a 6BT in it for power...

[@LOWBIMMER323i]

What a surprise! So happy for you! This will be fun to see all the work you do to it.

[@taurota1554]

Awesome and outstanding as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along

[@jasongerard1536]

I'm only half way through the video and I'm excited for you. Great Find!

[@dankean8319]

Can’t wait to see it cleaned up and running!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉