Watching the presidential motorcade, I noticed that one of the Secret Service SUVs following the limo has panels that come down to almost entirely cover the rear wheels, rather than it being exposed as typical on other vehicles. It was only on the rear wheels, and as far as I could tell it was only on one of the many SUVs. Anyone have an idea what this might be? Why only the rear wheels, and why only that one vehicle?
I found this picture which shows an SUV with panels that a secret service agent can stand on while the vehicle is moving. I don’t know if these panels can fold up, but if they do, it would look like a panel covering the rear wheel.
Could this be what you saw?
The image is from here:
http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/fedcars/ss3.html
Only the rear wheels because if they had those panels on the front wheels, you couldn’t turn.
engineer_comp_geek, can’t get your first link to work, but i had gone to that site before posting to look for it. The panels didn’t look like anything movable, more like a solid panel attached to the body of the SUV.
Silenus, thanks, that does make sense. For whatever they are.
Link doesn’t work for me, is it the same thing shown in this photo?
Yep, that’s it, and it’s a better pic. In that one you can tell that they don’t fold up.
If my second link works, it’s about 3/4ths of the way down on the right side.
scr4, your link seems to have extraneous SD info at the end, but I found the photo you’re talking about: Inaugural Parade Held After Swearing In Ceremony Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images
Yes, that SUV in the background has the wheel covers I’m talking about, but when I saw it there was no running board for an agent to stand on. It didn’t look like one could flip down or whatever, but maybe that’s what it is. The wheel panel somehow deploys the running board and covers the wheel so the agent’s pant leg isn’t sucked in?
Maybe the running board is deployed from under the vehicle when it is needed, so as to not obstruct the doors unnecessarily? And the wheel cover is needed to prevent someone getting wrapped around the axle, so to speak, but can be a semi-permanent fit because it causes no issues other than for tire changes and servicing?