...out of that snake skin! Ha!
I can understand your concern over discovering it's not at all what you signed up for, but with your access to parts and tools, and your apparent DIY skills, it seems like you're the perfect person to take on this restoration. I've heard others on this forum say that they did not find their trailers, but rather their trailers found them. In your case this seems quite true.
And on the bright side, I've been looking for an Overlander here in Central Texas for several months and still don't have one. They don't seem to be for sale that often around here.
Anyway, good luck on your restoration, I'll be following it closely (and hoping to follow in your footsteps in the near future).