Hello Andy,
Covers may or may not be needed depending on your circumstances. Covers can help if you have to park under trees or if you live in a place with intense sunshine. Covers can cause problems if there is no ventilation such as mold growth on the sealant which I saw with mine. Whether you keep it on all the time or not depends on your circumstances. Is the top of the cover water resistant or water proof? That makes a difference. With the first, you still get moisture under the cover, so it might not totally eliminate the possibility of water damage.
As for the spoiler, you might check it out before taking the measures some have taken for older models. I think the spoiler has been modified so that the newer ones might not have the same problems. As for Eternabond over all screw holes, you would need to practically disassemble your RPod to get to all the screws. I don't think that is practical. For the most part, check to see that there are no visible problem areas. Deal with any you find but don't obsess about covering the 'Pod with Eternabond. That wouldn't look very good.
As for waxing, look for a product made for gel coat. Protect-All is one such product. Some of the ceramic sealants are supposed to be very good for this also. You can use a good quality wax, but some of the synthetics will last longer. Look to see if the product provides UV protection. That is important.
The frame should be okay. If you see any rust spots, treat them with a product such as Rustoleum Rust Reformer or equivalent and then top it with a good quality paint. My understanding is that some of these undercoating products can cause more problems than they fix. As for preventing chipmunks and/or mice from getting inside, you could screen any openings you see. I guess it depends on your environment. I haven't had any problems with mice and we have a lot of squirrels, but no chipmunks. There may be some repellent products you can use such as peppermint oil to discourage pests.
Check my mods for my experiences with black water tank pipe hangers. I have had two failures. There won't be a third! For this, it is best to be proactive. I don't know if the factory has changed the hanger design, but if it is still just the thin piece of metal held on with a bolt, then go ahead and add additional backup support or replace the hanger with something more sturdy. There have been several designs I have seen in various posts. The Advanced Search function can be helpful as you can expand the date range for searches instead of just getting ones six months old and newer.
Above all, enjoy your RP190. Have a lot of fun and make many great memories. You will likely find things with your 190 that don't quite suit you and you will likely want to make modifications to make it more suitable for you. I have made many to our RP179 which you can see in my mods. Also, remember that things can happen when you tow down the road as there is a whole lot of shaking going on. This is to be expected and happens with any brand at any price point.
------------- StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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