Hi Blakey,
Pardon my late reply, we graduated from tents of various sizes to a tent trailer, then to a Jayco Eagle Outback camper trailer & then to our current 17'6" Jayco Discovery Outback pop-top. We bought the Eagle when I retired at age 60 & lived in it for two long trips into WA - one across the bottom, one to Broome & the Kimberly area. I'm certain it went on roads that Mr Jayco would have frowned upon. We had a woman at Esperance tell us that she couldn't travel in our rig for more than 3 weeks (I didn't have to tow their juggernaut).

Each step has seen us restrict our destination/where we could go either by weight or width (a lot of bush roads are narrow with the bush wanting to take over), but as we are both beyond 75 years old, our adventures are winding back anyway. Our bodies are telling us to start slowing down too.

We haven't done the big lap as such, lived in two states since marrying & have tried to see as much of that state as possible - with the occasional big trip to see other states/specific parts of those states. Visiting family & seeing as much as we can while doing that seems to take much of our travel these days.
We're happy with what we have at the moment & while I'd like to have something a little smaller, having onboard facilities makes travelling in "our senior years" more comfortable.

As it's about 6 years since we've been home (for me), we're planning to go back to SA next year, route unknown at the moment but it could involve some remote travel.

My advice to you is to look at the places you'd like to see & buy something that will enable you to see those places - even buying something smaller initially & using it to investigate the more isolated areas before stepping up to more "luxury". And don't be put off the second hand market unless you have no handyman skills - just do your homework well. Both of our Jaycos were second hand.

All the best.