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How many of you have taken a look at the armored motorhomes used by the President? There are a lot of high quality luxury RVs and motorhomes out there, but what about when you consider the special requirements of a head of state? Probably not something you’d find on a “local RVs and motorhomes for sale” site!
These luxury RVs are referred to unoficially as Ground Force One (a take on the name of the Presidential jet). The President takes them, but so do other dignitaries.
In years past, the President rented luxury RV buses (the Secret Service took care of the RV rentals) for the motorcade of the President, and modified these motorcoaches as required with communications and security.
Then in 2011, during the campaign up to the 2012 election, the service introduced a permanent fleet of RVs. People are guessing as to why the purchase, but it probably has something to do with saving the taxpayer money by avoiding recurring RV rental / customization costs as well as the ability to maintain and improve the motorhome’s technology better as the US leader does his job.
The shell of this motor home is a X4-45 VIP 3-axle Prevost, and the custom outfitting of the coach was done by Hemphill Brothers Coach Company in Nashville. Yep, that’s right, its the same sort of luxury diesel pusher Prevost a lot of other people have. Then the Service outfitted it themselves with special equipment.
RV Specifications:
– 505 square feet (47 meters square) interior space
– Flashing (police type) lights
– Plain black paint job
– Number of units: 2 (One was used by Obama, the other by Mitt Romney)
– Uses: transportation of President, and at other times can be used to transport visitors
– Special equipment: uncertain security and communications equipment
Cost for each of the 2 buses in the Presidential fleet was $1.1 million. Photo: president and associate catching what could be a quite rare moment of rest on the road. Anyone who’s ever worked while RVing or motorhoming probably thinks that there’s a lot to do, but on a presidential schedule, even a luxury Prevost coach like this one might not be comfortable enough to distract from the work of the day!
