23 Zero Armadillo X2 Review
Looking at Roof Top Tents? Here's what we bought and learned.
Update 2025: 23 Zero no longer manufactures or sells the Armadillo X2/X3 series due to the introduction of a new model, but if you’re planning to purchase a used model, this is still valuable to know.
After a year of researching and considering a rooftop tent for our new Chevy 1500 Trail Boss, we’ve finally pulled the trigger. We are now owners of an X2 Armadillo Hardtop from 23 Zero.
While I’ll be providing a video review of our new RTT, I thought it would be great for readers to learn about our experience so far. But I’m gonna skip all the unboxing fluff and get to the point. Life is short after all, and you have adventures to enjoy.
Thoughts about the Armadillo X2
As with any product, including RTTs, there will be pros and cons. Even after doing all my research, I still discovered things I like or don’t like about the Armadillo X2.
It’s heavy to install.
The first thing you need to know is this motherf@cker is heavy and hard to install for older guys who don’t abuse 1000mg of testosterone every week!
At 225 lbs, it took three guys to throw that thing on the Billie Bars rack to ratchet it down. Of course, we had several beers, and two of us are in the over-50s club, but maybe you’ll heave it up there with no problem.
The YouTube video I watched of a guy and his wife doing the installation makes me wonder how in the hell they did it.
There were no instructions.
Even after watching several videos on YouTube, it would have been really helpful to get some instructions on how everything works.
23 Zero needs to do a way better job of explaining how the ladder rings adjust and lock properly, how to get the flaps folded in so you can close the shell easier, warning you to space properly for your truck cab so you can use both side windows, and just basic setup information.
The mounting brackets suck.
The four mounting plates included with the RTT purchase are absolute shit, in my opinion.
The brackets bent as we tightened them to capacity, and the bolts aren’t long enough to extend much longer than the locking nut. I keep having nightmares that they are gonna fail while driving, and this expensive 225 lbs home is gonna fly through someone’s windshield.
I’m gonna order HD mounting brackets from Billie Bars to give me peace of mind, but 23 Zero should provide something similar.
It’s not always simple to use.
I watched a handful of videos about how easy it is to set up and take down the Armadillo X2. Only for my wife and me, it hasn’t been that way yet.
While we’ve not used this RTT a bunch yet, setting it up requires a little more work than just pulling the ladder and popping up the roof. Sometimes we have to climb on the tonneau cover to open and close it.
FYI: This ain’t always easy when you’re older, tired, or have had a few drinks! 🍺
Additionally, we’ve learned that you must push the air out, fold the side fabric a certain way, and position items properly to close the shell. And you can’t leave sleeping bags or pillows in it.
That being said, it’s getting easier to use, and we are getting better at setup and teardown. Just don’t expect to be glamping in 2–3 minutes when you’re just starting.
The overall quality is excellent.
I think 23 Zero made a great product overall and I like the quality of the ECO13B materials they used to make it.
The outer clamshell is rugged, the X-Braces are solid, and the Light Suppression Technology keeps the inside nice and dark.
The tent comes with a 2” rebound foam mattress, which is nice by itself, but we will be packing and throwing something thicker on top for sleeping. The insulated headliner is also a nice feature for the condensation in the mountains. Plus, it’s very spacious for two people!
There are also four locks for the RTT and they provided plenty of keys.
It’s quiet while traveling.
I was concerned about added road noise by having it on the truck, but so far we’ve not had any — even while driving in high winds in Arizona. 23 Zero did a great job of streamlining the RTT's shape and size.
Even our gas mileage has been very good for most places. We’ve averaged 19–21 MPG on the highway in normal circumstances and 16–19 MPG in the winds and mountainous terrain.
It Will Save Us Money Long Term
Even though the price tag for the Armadillo X2 was $2,949.00 USD, we will be spending less money down the road.
Over the past four years, we’ve mostly lived in hotels and resorts. The average price now for a crappy hotel chain is $100 per night. At $3,000 per month for this expense alone, you can see how it will easily pay for itself.
If we boondock on BLM land or elsewhere, we’ll save a bit of money, but even using some RV sites or state parks that average $30 or less per night, we’ll come out ahead financially compared to hotel fees.
Donetta and I are excited and happy with our purchase so far, even though we’ve only used it a few times.
We see many future possibilities to explore National Parks, State Parks, BLM properties, and other places as we continue to travel, because we can now stop and camp wherever we are.
And even though climbing up and down the ladder for older people can be challenging at times, I think it’s cool to be part of the “off the grid” community.
So there you have it.
P.S. For whatever reason, the person who attached the 23 Zero logo did NOT place it on the RTT straight. As a creative, this drives me bonkers! 😜