Aluminum dry boxes for rafting, car camping, RVs, or anything else! Mad Cow aluminum dry boxes are water resistant and built to last.

Custom Dry Boxes, Raft Frames, and Panniers
For the boating, recreation, and outfitting industries
Request Estimate or InformationOur Products

IGBC Bear Boxes
IGBC food storage boxes are certified bear boxes with lockable latches and a welded stiffener inside/across the box front (in addition to the standard box features).

Raft Frames
Mad Cow raft frames are constructed with aluminum pipe and diamond plate or smooth deck plate. Check out our standard raft frames, raft frame components and fishing frames. Custom raft frames are also available.

New! Accessories
Check out our new dry box organizers! We also have dry box pads and lid organizers.
Our Work
Mad Cow Metal Works, located in Bozeman, MT, specializes in custom aluminum welding and fabrication, aluminum dry boxes, raft frames, and panniers for the boating, recreation, and outfitting industries. Lightweight and water resistant, Mad Cow aluminum dry boxes are manufactured from .100 inch aluminum making them the toughest, most durable dry boxes on the market. Designed to withstand decades of use, and abuse, our dry boxes feature robust can-jar latches, full-length hinges, and rubber gaskets. Our IGBC certified bear boxes also feature lockable latches. With superior craftsmanship and showroom aesthetics, this is the last dry box you will ever buy.
Give us a call to discuss your requirements. We custom build boxes and panniers for any use you can imagine.
A few organizations purchasing our bear resistant food storage boxes:
- Yellowstone National Park
- Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
- Idaho Fish and Game
- BLM
- Colorado Estes National Park
- Colorado Fourteeners initiative
- Southwest Conservation Core, Durango, Colorado
- Nevada State Tortoise Conservation
- Casey Anderson and his Friend “Brutus”
- Boise Idaho wildfire crew 11
- Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) California
- 45 North Films For: (in production)
- National Geographic Katmai Natl Park Bear studies
- National Geographic Gates of the Artic Natl Park. Bear, Wolf, Fox and Musk Ox studies
Share your Mad Cow Metal Works photos with us! Email your photo and caption to 
THANKSGIVING SALE!
We are having a "bear box" sale now thru 11/27/2024 of all "in stock" bear boxes. Call for sizes available. 406-581-9115.
$50 off all bear boxes and panniers.
A thank you to all of our clients for another great year and to wish you all a great holiday season.
Thanks
Jim, Todd and gang.

Really nice setup for shawn and olivia. Boxes, front drop top/kitchen table, rear drop top, frame and captains floor.
Smooth drop tops and the rest diamond plate..
Really great working with you shawn and thank you for your business.

Haley and her four legged rafting buddy Stacy enjoying there new frame, floors and boxes.
We love that color, green and pink will really "pop" on the river. Beautiful combo, thanks Haley, enjoy.

Gear caddy and tray, had to post it finished. Color of choice for his 6yr old daughter, nice.

Some Brown "Bear boxes" for a national park trail/fire crew. First time weve done Brown boxes, turns out the trail crew wants to hide the boxes in the woods with there Pulaski`s and other equip, and gps mark there location. Sounds pretty cool. Just a fun fyi.

Looks like the smooth deck plates are taking off. Couple of frames and a drop top trailer getting finished up.
Thanks for your support and faith in our products we appreciate it.
#aluminumbearbox
#bearresistantbox
#bearboxes
#rafting
#raftframes
#bozeman
#madeinmontana

We have a local company that will powder coat our frames. They did a great job..Couple of points to make on this process. Since we use adjustable sliders so you can personally adjust our crossbars to fit your needs this means the powder coat process needs to be done two times. Coated and oven cooked, then the sliders need to be moved then coated in the original location and baked again.
2nd point the slider area after the second baking leaves some imperfections in the coating as i tried to show in the pic. I think its fine but if you want coating perfection dont order the powder coat and shipping a powder coated frame may leave rub marks. Cost is approx $550.

NEW PRODUCT, we are now welding 1/8" aluminum "smooth" deck plates for those that want to put glue on foam on there deck plates like Sea Foam.
Be a while till there are on the web site but available now.

We added a new video titled "Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Expeditions Featuring Mad Cow Metal Works Bear Boxes".
Film crew " 45 North Films" is doing a Nat Geo documentary on coastal Brown Bears in Alaska and they were using our Bear Boxes for there expedition.
John Shier surprised us with a great video.
Thanks John.
Check out the link in our bio or at you tube.
#bearbox
#aluminumraftframes
#aluminumbearbox
#igbcbearbox
#aluminumdrybox
#drybox


Learn more about our process.
Questions? Contact Us- 5
Todd, Got the boxes in without a single hitch. They look awesome. You are a remarkable welder. Very impressive. I've been involved in various types of welding for the last 18 years and your welds are the nicest welds I've seen. Additionally, the hardware is well chosen. Robust and up to the job... If someone is looking for the cheapest way to do the job, they might continue their search. If they want the highest quality product, their search can stop. Definitely a fair price for the caliber of workmanship and the quality of the finished product you delivered. Will come to you in the future and highly recommend to others that they do the same.
S. Arnold IV.
- 5
Thanks to Todd, Jim and the crew at Mad Cow Metal Works for pushing my order up and getting the bear resistant boxes finished in time for our last trip to Alaska. We found them quite handy for our food storage and winter gear along with the peace of mind that we were being safe in bear country. Having been there several times, food storage is always a big concern. Despite Todd’s warning that they might leak in the rain at highway speeds, that didn’t happen. They were watertight and we had plenty of rain showers to test them. We also had a few Forest Service rangers and a RCMP officer in Faro – Yukon Territory spot the certification decal and were impressed that we had enough forethought to come prepared to that part of the world. Lightweight and well-constructed to take the beating of the North Country. Thanks Again!
B. Coker, Salt Lake City
- 5
I received the box last night. I've got to say this is the finest dry box that I have ever seen. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are amazing. The handles are great. The welds are perfect. The seals are neat and perfectly set. Thanks for the great work. I can't wait to use it.
N. Abrams
- 5
Just wanted to shoot you a note and tell you how pleased i am with my new kitchen box. Your attention to detail is second to none. Speaking as a person who also welds for a living you craftsmanship is outstanding, welds were tight and consistent, and no small detail was overlooked. I also really appreciate the care in which the box was packed for shipping, all too often i have received quality products poorly packed and shipped, not the case here. The box came through perfect and undamaged. I will be proudly showing off you work and singing your praises on the river for years to come. I am a firm believer in buying the best and you are definitely the best. Customer for life.
N. Fetterhoff
- 5
I received the three aluminum cases yesterday, and I have to say their quality is exceptional. They are everything I was hoping they would be. They are rugged and perfect. Your level of manufacturing design, materials, workmanship, and quality is going to keep you guys in business for a long time. I, and I think most people, hate it when something is purchased and it turns out to be shoddy in materials used, workmanship, and design. That certainly isn’t the case with your products – they are excellent. Thanks again for meeting all my expectations.
J.C.