Fan Cage Display - Aluminum, or Steel ??

[Cyfarmer]

Looking at purchasing a new fan cage display for a few shows. My daughter(12) is just getting started into showing cattle, and my son (8) has shown an interest. I would like to purchase a fan cage display for our county fair, as well as possibly Ia Beef Expo, and Ia State Fair.
What is everyone's opinions on Aluminum vs Steel, as well as the supplier.
My concern is - is the Aluminum going to be strong enough to stand up long term?
I understand that the Aluminum will look better long term.
Also, Sullivans is more $ than Vittetoe, - opinions?

 

[showsteerdlux]

We use both, but I'd personally get the steel for the reason most of the adaptors for the fans match the steel match up, and we haven't had the best of luck with the aluminum getting together the best.

 

[MooMooLover]

I love the aluminum because it is so much lighter. We take one of each to state fair. Had to carry the steel ony way about a 1/4 mile. That thing is heavy. Anyway, we have had our aluminum one for about 7 years. We have had to use different things to hold it together though for the last two years. The screws that hold the front and back to the sides snapped off inside the hole, so now we use about a four foot piece of metal tubing and just slide it into the bottom panel and slide the top down onto it. Actually works better than the screws. I don't like that it doesnt have fan mounts, we have to hang them from the bar and they hang too low. Steers like to back into them and it sounds terrible when they do that. Also, when you have it open all the way it sags when you have 4 fans hanging from it. We also have to get the side panels welded because the weld points are popping off. I think we have gotten our use out of it though. My son only has 3 years left, so I think we will make do with it.

 

[Bradenh]

i agree. we use aluminum