BX1880 or 2380

Kevin1

Member

Equipment
Husqvarna MZT 52, BX2380,FEL, Box blade, Landscape Rake
Dec 15, 2017
127
2
18
New Bern, N.C.
Hi, I just joined the forum so I can gain some first hand knowledge on the 1880 and 2380. I am looking at both these for use around my yard. The main use will be with the swift loader for moving and shaping my land. I am not planning on getting or using it as a mower (keeping my ZTR). I have found very few product reviews online. If anyone can chime in on their experience and rec I would greatly appreciate it. Here are a few questions.
1. 2380 or 1880
2. Need for ballast?
3. Type of tire (no mowing, loader use only) AG or Turf
4. Will 18HP be good enough for moving dirt up and down a sloped lot?
5. Thoughts on ground clearance(without mower deck).

Many thanks in advance

Kevin
 

StephenB

Member

Equipment
Bx1880,MMM, loader.
May 24, 2017
52
0
6
Nova Scotia
I have the 1880 and can't say enough good about about it, I am pleased with my decision to buy it. It has done everything I had hoped it would do and more.
It mows and moves dirty and what ever else i can fit in the bucket plus it runs my four foot bush hog :)
I have the turf tires (back tires are loaded) and they preform well for my use and when I add the chains it will be on snow duty with the loader and 60 inch rear blade. I did make a small 300lb weight barrel for the three point when using the loader.
I was in the same place as you torn between the 1880 and 2380 but it came down to do I really need the extra hp for the extra money? I have never yet ran out of power and don't think I will based on my use so far.
 

dirtydeed

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650 BH77, U27-4R2, BX23TLBM, box blade, rear blade, flail mower, Stump Grinder
Dec 8, 2017
3,042
3,722
113
Wind Gap, PA
They look like pretty much like the same machine with the only difference being horsepower, tire size and 90lbs of weight. 1880 has about an inch less ground clearance (due to smaller diameter tires). Specs can be found here on the last pages:

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/brochure-sheets/bx80.pdf?sfvrsn=c4a4e85b_8

Regarding tires...I had bars (Ags) on my BX23 and still was able to mow with it without issue. If you're mostly doing dirt work, I'd opt for the 23 or 26 horse machine and get bars or industrial tires. You'll definitely need rear ballast with a full loader. I used my bx23 a few times without the hoe on it and even with rear wheel weights, it could get sketchy very quickly when running with a loader full of anything but mulch.

Don't forget to add a tooth bar too. Makes a big difference especially with these smaller machines (any machine really).

Not sure what the difference in price is, but maybe kubota is still offering discounted implements and 0% financing...maybe that would allow you to select a slightly more powerful machine.

The old BX23 I had was a brute and very reliable.

Best of luck in your decision.
 

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,769
2,581
113
Bedford - VA
1. 2380 or 1880
what is total turn key price between these two? If less than 2K ....I would go with the 2380....

2. Need for ballast? YES - absolutly - have THEM do it ...and for FREE

3. Type of tire (no mowing, loader use only) AG or Turf
With the 1880 - R4 are not offered......THE 2380 does have them - and IMHO - R4's are the way to go.

4. Will 18HP be good enough for moving dirt up and down a sloped lot?

YES - but 30% more HP is a good thing too - 'specially at the PTO end


5. Thoughts on ground clearance(without mower deck).

Both are about the same - the 2380 has a little bit higher due to the tires are larger
 

Kevin1

Member

Equipment
Husqvarna MZT 52, BX2380,FEL, Box blade, Landscape Rake
Dec 15, 2017
127
2
18
New Bern, N.C.
Many Thanks for all the great feedback. So far, one quote from a dealer was 12,700 for the 1880 and 14,200 for the 2380 both with FEL. Trying to get a couple of other quotes from two other dealers. I also did a pre-qaul for the finance with Kubota in cases one makes me an offer I can't refuse I can pull the trigger quickly. Otherwise I can wait a few months.

I was amazed that you cant just download a owners manual online without having to pay for it. Oh well. Thanks again everyone for taking the time to respond. I will post with pictures when take the jump. Merry Christmas to all!
 

ItBmine

Well-known member

Equipment
B2620, RTV-X1100C
Jan 21, 2014
1,381
385
83
Canada
You can download all owners manuals for free on the Kubota Canada site.

Just select the machine model and it gives you all the free downloads when you scroll down to the bottom.
 

ItBmine

Well-known member

Equipment
B2620, RTV-X1100C
Jan 21, 2014
1,381
385
83
Canada
Sorry.....they have them for every model except the B80 series. Maybe because it is still pretty new?
 

Orangeglow

Active member

Equipment
2015 BX2370
Jun 19, 2014
335
153
43
Prescott, Ontario
For what it,s worth, I,ve never heard anyone say, Jeez, that,s to big. For the small extra bit of cost, get the BX2380, you will be glad you did.:)
 

ItBmine

Well-known member

Equipment
B2620, RTV-X1100C
Jan 21, 2014
1,381
385
83
Canada
I'm not one of those guys that preaches "go big" as I get big work done with my little B and enjoy the low cost of operation.
But I agree with Orangeglow.....get the most h.p. in the size class you choose.
The 1880 has a slightly smaller footprint if you have a small lawn to mow, but you don't have that problem so I would go with the higher h.p. if the extra cost is not an issue to you.

But then again I don't follow my own advice because when I bought I went with the B2620 over the B2920 and the money I saved bought me an extra implement.
And so far, clearing the 13 foot of total snowfall last winter with the blower, box blading on my hills or running the wood chipper/shredder I have never bogged down or run out of power with my 26.
 

imnukensc

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2380
Sep 10, 2015
692
600
93
Midlands of SC
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the 1880 comes with tilt steering wheel, arm rests, or cruise control. The 2380 does and 5 more HP to boot. Seems like there was a thread or two on here of someone wanting to modify their 1880 to have those niceties with the exception of the HP.
 

StephenB

Member

Equipment
Bx1880,MMM, loader.
May 24, 2017
52
0
6
Nova Scotia
Your right they don't come with those options, they can all be added from dealer I was told. But the tilt steering I didn't need or the cruise control. I would have liked to had the arm rests though. I guess it's all what you want.
 
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Kevin1

Member

Equipment
Husqvarna MZT 52, BX2380,FEL, Box blade, Landscape Rake
Dec 15, 2017
127
2
18
New Bern, N.C.
For what it,s worth, I,ve never heard anyone say, Jeez, that,s to big. For the small extra bit of cost, get the BX2380, you will be glad you did.:)
My thoughts exactly..Thanks

Things a Prius owner never hears...
"Hey, nice car"
 
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Kevin1

Member

Equipment
Husqvarna MZT 52, BX2380,FEL, Box blade, Landscape Rake
Dec 15, 2017
127
2
18
New Bern, N.C.
Can anyone tell me with the FEL can raise and roll the bucket at the same time? I had read on the JD1023e you can only do one function at a time.
 

jrm

New member

Equipment
bx1880
Aug 26, 2019
12
0
0
brightwood, Oregon
Hello, New member! I just picked up a 1880 and im hoping I made the right choice. I have 10 acres of heavily wooded flat ground with 1 acre of grass and .025 of future garden, the price difference on the 2380 in my area was 2100 bucks- My neighbor has a JD 1025R and it does EVERYTING I can throw at it just fine- even slips the tiller clutch before it even thinks of bogging- even tilling in high range :eek: I think the little D722 engine should till my fluffy soil just fine. The only thing that worry's me is that all my friends have larger 2320 and jd 2025R tractors and we share the implements... from what I can read, and see on youtube is that the cat 1 on this tiny 1880 has the same strength as the 2380 with just less HP? I don't want to hurt my cute lil 18 by carting around huge blades and box scrapers.
 

KennysNewFarm

Member

Equipment
MX5800
Dec 28, 2017
220
13
18
Missouri
Hello, New member! I just picked up a 1880 and im hoping I made the right choice. I have 10 acres of heavily wooded flat ground with 1 acre of grass and .025 of future garden, the price difference on the 2380 in my area was 2100 bucks- My neighbor has a JD 1025R and it does EVERYTING I can throw at it just fine- even slips the tiller clutch before it even thinks of bogging- even tilling in high range :eek: I think the little D722 engine should till my fluffy soil just fine. The only thing that worry's me is that all my friends have larger 2320 and jd 2025R tractors and we share the implements... from what I can read, and see on youtube is that the cat 1 on this tiny 1880 has the same strength as the 2380 with just less HP? I don't want to hurt my cute lil 18 by carting around huge blades and box scrapers.
With 10 acres what made you decide to buy the smallest garden tractor on the market?
 

jrm

New member

Equipment
bx1880
Aug 26, 2019
12
0
0
brightwood, Oregon
$$ and iv been getting by with just my Honda ATV and a x300 mower quite well. EDIT- well not true, I blew the rear diff on the ATV pulling a large harrow at full throttle in low range with 4 sacks of cement on the rear rack. I can switch my order to the 2380 if needed
 
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PaulL

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601
Jul 17, 2017
2,452
1,376
113
NZ
If I was aiming to share implements with guys who have JD 2 series and Kubota B series, I might have looked at a machine in that size range, even if it meant I needed to buy second hand. I'm assuming there's not an option to ask the dealer to swap for a B series (either because the dealer won't, or because you can't afford it?)

You have it now, so work with it. If it lifts it it'll move it, lifting things won't break it, it'll just run out of lift. The hydraulics are identical to the BX2380, so it'll lift the same - that's driven by pump pressure not by HP. So swapping to a BX2380 won't help other than maybe for the tiller.

You might have to go slower when driving implements that use PTO HP, so a tiller might just need a slower attack on your ground, you might have to do two passes one at a shallow depth, or do the second row a little overlapping the previous row so that it's not working so hard.

Box blades and the like your problem will be traction. Again the BX 3ph will either lift it or it won't. If it doesn't lift it you can't use it, if it lifts it then you won't break the tractor lifting it. But when it comes to pulling it, you may find you don't have enough weight/traction to drag what you want to drag. Again you can work around this by taking smaller bites.

Be aware that you're asking a lot of a small machine, and don't abuse it. So don't go rocking things back and forward, or slamming into stuff to get it to move, that's when you break things. If you're applying steady power then things shouldn't break, they should just fail to work. It should spin the wheels or stall the engine long before the breaking point of any component - again unless you're shock loading it somehow.

Bottom line, try to do all the things you want to do. If it does them then it'll be fine, you're unlikely to break it doing tasks like you've outlined. But if there are things you can't do that you want to do, then swap the tractor before you've had it too long - the dealer can still sell it as new or near new if you've not put hours on it, but if you wait too long the cost to change will be substantial.
 
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KennysNewFarm

Member

Equipment
MX5800
Dec 28, 2017
220
13
18
Missouri
In my overall opinion buying a tractor is similar to buying a car. It is an investment. If the price is $2k difference today, what will it be in 5 years when you realized you should have went bigger. 5 years the difference could be $4k. I understand everyone has a budget but I would buy as much tractor as you can today, service it, keep it clean, and keep it forever. A properly maintained piece of equipment should last for years to come. Just my opinion. How much more is a B series?