Donny, glad to see some real drive stirring up in you. You are embarking on the same dream we've been working on for several years now. We have the long term plan to get a truck, toy hauler, and eventually a side by side to explore the country in. We have relatives in the south and southwest that we plan to spend long winters visiting during our winter snow bird routes. We have the truck now and we are downsizing our home situation in preparation for getting the toy hauler.
I would strongly advise that you guys spend some time acquainting yourselves with the realities of extended RV living. I say this because we have been planning our retirement adventure for a few years and because of research and following the guidance of the more experienced folks living this lifestyle we've dramatically adjusted our requirements and plans.
One of the things we have realized is that the biggest mistake people make when jumping in too quickly is going too big from the start. Often folks try to make their rolling home like their stationary home and it quickly becomes a huge burden simply because of sheer size, but also because even with that size you still can't have all the amenities and space for stuff that you are used to living with. A big problem people often find is part of their dream is to explore widely including Federal parks, BLM land and other rugged destinations. Many locations have size restrictions that will eliminate larger rigs from staying and the more rugged destinations will just not be possible with the big rigs. Also the bigger your rig and the more stuff you have along the more you have to maintain and manage in general. Everything you have to maintain is harder when you are out on the road away from your home base. It's just logistically more difficult. The less you can learn to live with the less you have to take care of and manage on the road.
What we've learned is the most experienced tailor their choice of RV to their specific RV lifestyle plan. If rugged or remote camping is the plan, going smaller and lighter is critical. If spacious amenities is a must than you will spend more time at large RV resorts and places that are set up for parking big rigs. Most people end up getting a second and then a third RV after they realize they got the wrong setup for what they really enjoy and plan to do. Many jump in blindly and end up loosing their asses because of the tremendous depreciation that RVs are subject to. Many RVs will lose 20-40% of the original value the first year you own it. The RV market is extremely inflated right now so depreciation is at an all time high right now as well.
I would strongly advise spending a lot of time watching some of the really good full time RVing YouTube channels to get a better handle on what the two of you really plan on doing the majority of the time you are exploring. You need to make sure you are both on the same page before you make your decision. The two channels I recommend are sources of the best, most honest and candid advice you can get. These folks know what they are talking about and don't sugar coat what you will experience. Again the biggest mistake people make is getting a rig too big for what they want to do and too big for what they really need and it take the fun out of the dream
YouTube channels:
Keep Your Daydream: A couple that have raised their kids living semi full time out of RVs. Tremendous amount of experience with several different sizes of RVs and the most useful advice you will find on the topic.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhJLsShZt8McryMf_DHLZQ
Long Long Honeymoon: An empty nest couple with a small dog that have lived on the road the majority of the last ten or more years. They focus a lot on the realities of RV life and how to keep it fun and enjoyable for both parties. They have lived in a smaller Airstream travel trailer and particularly keeping simple rather than big and complicated.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5WYtMXQ799GErKpvR_5Rw
I can't stress enough that there's a lot to consider when making this decision if you want it to be fun and enjoyable for you and your wife. The majority of RVs get used a few times and than parked for months on end because the people didn't realize what they were getting into and that they had different goals when they jumped in. You mentioned that you have never pulled a large rig. I'm guessing your wife is the same and hasn't driven a large rig around the country? Keep in mind that she will need to be able to drive this rig too. It may not be often but she should be able to at least drive it safely and with some level of confidence when and if the need arises. The biggest stressor for rookies is maneuvering and parking the rig. The bigger it is the more stress when it comes to getting into and out of camp sites, RV parks etc. There's no quicker way to throw a damp rag on the adventure than having conflict every time you have to park or maneuver in and out of congested areas. Also some States have pretty restrictive regulations regarding larger rigs. I can't speak to all the details but it is something to know about if you plan to go big and possibly over weight.
I want you to move foreword with your dream buddy, but I want you to do it with eyes wide open. You will have a blast exploring the country together, but you will guarantee a higher level of success and joy together if you avoid the big mistakes that most of the rookies make up front. I hope this helps in some way. Good luck with your dream! ?