MSA 4x4 Accessories Battery Box tested

Having decided to upgrade my storage drawers from a Black Widow system to a lightweight RV Storage Solutions package, I discovered that my lithium battery would no longer fit behind the cargo barrier.

My solution was to mount it under the false floor, secured with tie-down straps. This wasn’t the smartest, safest or most secure solution but I couldn’t find anything off the shelf… until MSA 4x4 Accessories launched the MSA Battery Box in May 2023.

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Designed to fit with any type of drawer system, the MSA Battery Box suited my needs. Even though the current set-up was stable, I was always concerned that severe corrugations could loosen the straps and my battery would then bounce and strike the roof of the false floor, possibly causing a catastrophic lithium fire or damaging the battery so it wouldn't work.

The instructions that came with the MSA Battery Box were simple to follow and once I’d worked out where I was going to mount it, I began the installation. Hot tip: place all the supplied nuts and bolts into a container so nothing is lost.

The only tools needed were a 13mm and 10mm spanner, a couple of Allen keys, a drill and an 8.5mm drill bit. While it was easy to drill the required 8.5mm holes through the back wall of the aluminium storage system for the top bracket, I did need to use rivnuts for the bottom bracket, as I couldn't access the bolt from the other side.

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The box bolts onto these brackets, so you need to ensure they are securely mounted. With the box then secured to the brackets, it was time to place the battery into its new home. With foam padding on the sides of the box, the battery is prevented from moving around or being damaged from rubbing.

I then adjusted the securing saddle to suit the width of the battery before screwing down the poles. With the cables attached to the positive and negative terminals, it was time to fit the lid, which also features internal rubber padding. Once on the lid is secured to the battery with the supplied screws.

I have travelled more than 20,000km since I installed the MSA Battery Box, and I’m certainly impressed. The lithium battery is now safe and secure and well protected inside the battery box. When I recently needed to replace the battery it was an easy task. All that is required is unscrewing the lid to remove it, unbolting the securing saddle, removing the cables from the terminals, swapping the battery out then reversing the steps.

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I like that all the nuts and bolts are stainless steel, and there are captive nuts for the lid to bolt into. The rubber on the lid prevents any issues from the exposed terminals while the foam inserts on the walls of the box protect the battery from vibrations.

The battery box has four entry points for wiring to the battery with rounded lips to prevent wear through the wiring. I like the simplicity of the battery box design and easy installation but it isn’t light due to its rugged 2mm powder coated steel construction, so now my lithium setup with the box weighs about the same as an AGM battery. Having said that, it’s worth the extra weight to know the lithium battery is safe and secure.

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Another cool thing about the MSA Battery Box is the mounting plate that is supplied can be used to mount a DC-DC charger, an air compressor, a water pump or a fuse box. So, if you have the space, you can kill two birds with one stone.

Here are some numbers to close out: the battery box weighs 11kg, the same as my lithium battery. The external dimensions are 354mm (l) x 244mm (w) x 252mm (h). The internal dimensions are 330mm (l) x 194mm (w) x 224mm (h), which means it will accommodate any standard N70 battery or a range of AGM and lithium batteries.

MSA 4X4 also makes a Slimline Battery Box for smaller lithium batteries. Both MSA Battery Boxes come with a lifetime guarantee.

RRP: $295