All great advice. Absolutely visit all the camper/RV shows you can in our area and visit a few big ones even outside your area. Do your own research and don't depend on the salespeople to help you sort it all out. They parrot what they think will sell you one of their units or attempt to convince you that the unit(s) they have in stock are exactly what you need. Walk the shows, walk the lots, pick up pamphlets.
Then sit down with that huge stack of brochures and keep what 'may just work for us' and throw away 'that definitely won't work'. You will start paring down to a final few selections.
Based on tow vehicle and restrictions the list won't be too long to get through.
The one thing we ourselves are doing right now to help us sort through gas motor homes for our own upcoming upgrade; is making two lists. Like pros and cons of our final 3-4 units we are considering.
This list is based on DH and I sitting down and making a list of key elements we won't budge on.
This summer/fall we are going to make the final selection. We ave it down to two units now.
I must say, the researching and shopping isn't bad if you stay in a good frame of mind and somewhat organized. I've been having un doing it!