Seal the cooler drain plug.

Yes. That little plastic plug is the first thing to fail, and a leaky cooler is a sad cooler.

Most cooler drain plugs are cheap plastic that gets brittle in the sun or cracks when you step on it wrong. Once it leaks, your ice melts faster, your food gets soggy, and you’re basically carrying a wet trash bin. Sealing it prevents that.

Easiest fix: remove the original plug, clean the area, and fill the hole with marine-grade silicone or a threaded brass plug (if you can find the right size). The silicone is cheap and works for years. The brass plug is permanent and indestructible.

If you never use the drain (most people don’t), just seal it shut. If you need to drain, get a metal replacement plug with a gasket. Either way, stop trusting that factory plastic.

Your cooler will last longer than you will.