Remove all of the seats from the bus using a screwdriver and socket wrench set. Dispose of the seats in a junkyard or give them away.
Lay down the flooring for the bus, beginning with styrofoam flooring insulation or another type of insulative flooring material. Lay down and snap together wood flooring pieces on top of the insulation to cover the entire floor of the bus.
Build benches and bed platforms for the bus, according to the number of people that you expect to transport or have living with you. Construct the benches and bed platforms using 1/4-inch plywood sheets cut to make free-standing units that have eyelets drilled into the sides. Use hinges that can open up the seats of the benches and sections of the bedding platform to make hidden storage compartments. Using closed storage compartments helps prevent items from becoming disorganized or falling off shelving since the vehicle will be moving at times. Drill holes and screw eyelets into the bus sides so that you can install the benches and bed platform with heavy-duty ropes or U-bolts.
Build and install a table for a propane stove into the bus using 2x4 wood pieces for the frame and legs and plywood for the top. Use a power drill to install eyelets into the side of the bus so you can tie the table into the bus to prevent it from sliding or falling over. Measure the dimensions of your propane-stove burner and frame in an edge on the tabletop so the stove does not move around while driving. Also frame in a compartment underneath the table for the propane tank. Use hinges and a plywood section to construct a fold-out tabletop section with a pivoting leg underneath it. This will allow you to fold out a larger table section for working on crafts and other projects or for eating with a group of people.
Insulate the sides of the bus if you plan on traveling in northern climates during the winter months. Use a power drill with a metal boring bit to bolt in 2x4s for framing out the bus and installing insulation. Drill holes into the sides and top of the bus and secure the 2x4s to the body of the bus with threaded bolts. Space each stud, a vertical 2x4, about 16 inches apart. Use weather stripping and bubble wrap to add extra weather protection for the windows. Install the bubble wrap by dipping it in a solution of water and dish detergent, then sticking the bubble side of the wrap against the window. Even if you are drywalling the interior of the bus, it is advised to keep the windows in place, using weather stripping and caulk to prevent the elements from ruining the interior of the bus.
Personalize your bus with awnings, paint and other custom decorations.
