seems like the simple solution is to tip the cooler no? I mean if you can get the old version find but if you can't I wouldn't worry to much. I tip the cooler anyway.
I don't want to tip. That is one of the features that drove me to upgrade. That and 30lb + capacity.
I don't mean to harp but why? mostly just curios now I must say.
Before I fill my mash tun with anything I put a little piece of wood underneath the non-drain end. Done. dead space = 0 (unless I get impatient and don't wait for it to all drain out).
Mainly because I have my tun on an Ikea nightstand or two kegs while brewing . But truly, just because I don't want to.
I used a fellow GBA'ers tun, loved it, and said to myself "I want that." I went into building this tun with a specific expectation and it wasn't met, so I am returning one for the other. If Walmart won't take it back, I'll live with it.
The newer version is a fine cooler, just not exactly what I wanted.