Futaba 4GWD vs Futaba 4EX

[hct6330]

Hi all !

Which rc system do you good people recommend? The Futaba 4GWD or the Futaba 4EX (I like the looks of it!) for my Ford F350 Highlift? I don't intend to use the MFU-02 (which is not suitable for both radio, right?) but I plan to buy some LED lights, a motor cooling fan and a esc cooling fan.

Your kind help, good people, is highly appreciated.

Thanks!

[McFig]

If you are not going to get the MFU, then the 4GWD will work just fine. I'm not familar with the 4EX. Got a link?

[hydroliftT17]

The 4EX does not have a self centring left stick. I guess it’s so you can keep the throttle even when using in a plane or a helicopter, easy fix is to move the spring from the right stick to the left. Leaving you with no spring on the vertical movement on the right stick, it won't affect steering at all. It’s possible to by the spring if you can find the part number, but I don’t know how,

I use this radio (4EXA, I can’t find a 4EX…) but I managed to get my hands on a complete spear stick from my local hobby shop, so I “stole” the spring from that, leaving me with all sticks self centring…

The 4GWD is meant to be used with cars so I guess all sticks are self centring…
( any one who can confirm this? )

4EXA
+
4 model memory
FM – less radio glitching
Analog trims – you can use the MFC

-
Long transmitter antenna ( but I have seen worse, like the hitec 6 ch)
Right stick not self centring (requires modification)


4GWD
+
Shorter transmitter antenna ( I think\hope)
Self centring sticks all-around ( I think\hope)

-
AM - more radio glitching
“Only” 3 model memory
Digital trims – you can not use the MFC


I love the 4EXA, the only thing I miss is more channels :P

If you never plan to use the MFC and don’t like modifying radios (although it’s an easy fix) the 4GWD is the obvious choice.

[hct6330]

Woops! I made a boo-boo....it should be 'Futaba 4EXA' and not 'Futaba 4EX' ! So sorry for that, gentlemen!

Here's the link:

http://www.futaba-rc.com/radios/futk40.html

It's the one that hydroliftT17 is talking about and thanks for the info.

I realized that the 4EXA uses a 7 channel receiver [FP-R127DF] and the 4GWD uses a 4 channel receiver [forgot the part #] and I read somewhere that the "extra" slots can be use for stuffs like the LED lights, motor cooling fan and esc cooling fan to get the "power source". Is this true? If not, how do I get the the "power source" for my add ons? Please advice.

Thanks!

[hydroliftT17]

I use this on my touring car. I just plugged it inn a free ch on my receiver, so yes that’s possible:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNDP4&P=7

Just make sure the black cable from the fan is where the black one from the servo would have gone, same goes for the red one. (The little red two pin connector fits, but pay attention to polarity, I don’t think anything happens if you get it wrong, but its better to play it safe)

I haven’t really thought about using it for lighting…
But it looks possible, and this looks like plug and play:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0002p?&M=MXA&P=SM

(By the way I checked the box of my radio and it says 4EX, but my radio says 4EXA, so I guess it’s the same thing… :P )

[GTRulez]

i use a Spectrum DX6 for my hi-lift chassis. say no to crystals hehe =)
6 ch. i dont have an mfu-02 system though.


i think ill be going for the TLU-01 and TLU-02 for my leds. i already got an TLU-01.

[hct6330]

Sorry for d late reply, good people....I was away for the weekend!

Thanks 4 d advice, hydroliftT17 ! Really appreciate that!

Nice cool radio u got there, GTRulez ! Must cost a bomb to get one of those !! About the leds which u got, are the wires long enough? I read somewhere that they're a bit "short" for the highlift.... please correct me if I'm wrong.

[chazell]

The 4EX does not have a self centring left stick.

I have a 4EXA which I use to controll my F150 Highlift, Aeromax Semi and Juggernaut and was able to get a self centering spring and lever assembly for the throttle from Futaba free of charge simply by e-mailing them and asking for it. Should you choose to go with the 4EXA, e-mail Futaba and ask for the self centering spring and lever parts. They are extremely easy to install.

[hct6330]

Thanks for the info, dude!

[Mouton]

The A in Futaba 4EXA is merely to emphasize Aircraft in order to let heli pilots know the radio has no helimixes. It does have some aircraft mixes such as V-tail and Delta-wing.

The Futaba 4EXA is the best choice out there today as it plays with the MFUs and work the threespeders like charm. The Futaba 6EX 2.4 GHz FASST radio system is better if you desperately need the two extra channels but like with the Spectrum you loose the manual trims. The ultimate system, however would be the Robbe/Futaba FX-40 2.4 GHz as that is a regular Futaba T14MZ that also have digital quick trim slide levers that work sort of like the analogue trims do...

For those of you who consider the antenna to be a problem, simply leave the the last two or three telescope parts collapsed. As long as you at least expand half of the antenna the transmitter unit will not overheat even during long sessions. The range will be shorter but who drives theses models from afar anyway? You will still have enough range.

On a personal note I prefer the gearshift stick (left stick Z-axis) not to self centre. I prefer the vehicle to stay in gear even if I let go of the throttle stick. My vote is thus simply on moving the springs from the left sticks Z-axis to its Y-axis.

[hct6330]

Thanks, Mouton!

[speedmaster]

Hi all !

Which rc system do you good people recommend? The Futaba 4GWD or the Futaba 4EX (I like the looks of it!) for my Ford F350 Highlift? I don't intend to use the MFU-02 (which is not suitable for both radio, right?) but I plan to buy some LED lights, a motor cooling fan and a esc cooling fan.

Your kind help, good people, is highly appreciated.

Thanks!


hi bro... i just want to ask you can used the Futaba 4EX for my hilux..?? i'm not using the MFC-2. TQ

[chiefsquattingmonkey]

how bout the t4vwd. tamiya recommends this one. any input?

[QIK-RX4]

I have 2 DX6i's. Im not worried about the mfu at all. They are cheap as to buy and having the 2.4 gig spektrum is the best. You can even get a dx5 now for $99 us tho it is one model only. But that is easliy over come.....

[joweetrd]

Hi guys I am using a Futaba Attack T4VWD AM on my tractor truck with MFC-01. I find that the receiving is rather poor is there any way to improve it? Thks!

[McFig]

As a general rule of thumb, if you are NOT using the MFU unit then you can use any 3 channel or 4 channel radio, as long as the 3rd channel has 3 positions.