I did a bus conversion years ago and would love to redo the RV part of my Toyota mini, it is not in the cards at this time in life.
Simply copy what is there using what you have for patterns. A big mistake many make is improving everything, thicker wood, bigger this and that, welding more bracing on. What they end up with is an over weight RV. Hard to get moving hard to stop! Keep in mind what you have has lasted decades.
There is a GVWR that should be kept in mind when redoing.
The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or gross vehicle mass (GVM) is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo but excluding that of any trailers.
So the 3/4 inch plywood roof, granite counter tops and floors with a 150 gallon gas tank ideas are not practical.
Ideal wood to use for framing would be white oak, holds fasteners well and is somewhat moisture resistant. Cedar looks like a great choice but does not hold fasteners well.
The dry rot you see in the RV is actually a fungus. If I was redoing one I would treat any wood I used with a fungicide. Read up on it, there are commercial ones available, I would coat mine with anti freeze.
Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are clear liquids used in antifreeze and deicing solutions. Exposure to large amounts of Ethylene Glycol can damage the kidneys, heart, and nervous system. Propylene Glycol is generally regarded as safe for use in food. Antifreeze that is sold as "Earth Friendly", "Environmentally Safe", etc are generally based on Propylene...Make Sure You Buy The Propylene Glycol, NOT the Ethylene!!!
Will be following your journey. Jim
