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
PRICE DROP! We were able purchase aluminum pipe for raft frames in bulk, so are passing that savings on to our customers!

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. 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 
We finally got around to updating our web site a bit. Yaaaa.
We updated frames,floors,anchor systems etc. Makes things much easier
To navigate with a few more pics added.
Had to post this pic. A local montana Gold prospector had us make a double walled Bear certified lunch pale for him since food storage containers are mostly required on all federal lands. This pic he sent is the back of his side x side loaded down with his tools and lunch.
#bearresistantdrybox
#bearbox
#drybox
#aluminumdrybox
#rafting
#montana

Captains box neatly tucked into its spot. Great day on the river.
Thanks for the pic.
#drybox
#aluminumdrybox
#raftframes
#madcowmetalworks
#bearbox

We just purchased a large lot of pipe for our frames, floors and anchor systems. Due to the quantity of pipe purchased we received a large discount, back to 2020 prices. So we are passing the savings on to you. Frame and footbar are now back down to $1550. Happy rafting.
#raftframes
#raftingframes
#aluminumraftframes
#bearboxes
#dryboxes

Box, tray and color of the month going to Ennis Montana.
Thanks for your business.
#bearbox
#drybox
#aluminumdrybox
#rafting
#montana

Some cool accessories for a great family out of Bellevue, ID.
Thanks for your business and thanks for taking the time to chat with us when you picked your frame up, you brightened up our day, these are shipping out next week.
#madcowmetalworks
#madeinmontana

Boxes and more boxes. NO 8 month backlog here. About 2 months out on custom made to order boxes. All these boxes are pre sold.
Check out these trays designed for 16" wide boxes. Keeps all your small items in the top area of the box, no more digging through the bottom of a packed box for your keys, cell phone and other goodies we all carry on the river.
Thanks for all your business, we appreciate it.

Beautiful boat and frame package out the door to a great couple out of the whitefish, MT area. Nice Gear Caddy in the lid and seat pad on top.

Interesting frame for a client with a dbl oar head setup for quick changes for shorter family members to row.
#montanawhitewaterrafting
#madeinmontana
#madcowmetalworks
#montanaflyfishing
#madisonriver

Merry christmas and happy holidays to all.
We had another very busy year at mad cow and we want to thank all of our customers for your continued support.
We hit -40 here in Bozeman this week, brrr, thankfully its warming to tee shirt weather this week😁.
I know my pics i post may be a little "old hat" but its what we do.
Curved frame trailer with a drop top/table.
Have a great holiday.
Jim,Todd and gang

Brand new boat with the full setup including drop top/table combo. Beautiful boat.
Finally starting to cool down a little here in SW Montana, maybe even some frost this weekend if we are lucky.
Thank you to all our customers.

We are now offering 18" sand spikes for sale on our website. We decided to go with 1/8" welded steel. We`ve made our own personal ones in the past out of 1/4" aluminum and they just dont hold up with the beating they get so this is what we now carry in our boats. These are mega stout. About the same weight as alum 1/4".
These are cerakoted, and we have several colors in stock right now but after these are sold we will only be doing 2 or 3 colors in the future.
These come with a synthetic rope lanyard and carabiner. $65.

Here`s one, welding shack up on the alaska north slope oil pipeline, these two guys had a surprise visitor.


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.