Vehicle manufacturers and suppliers alike are constantly striving to improve the roof top cargo carrying capability of vehicles. Part of this initiative is increasing the ability of vehicular roof rack system to efficiently carry a roof top load as the vehicle moves through air. More specifically, there is an initiative on behalf of vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to design roof rack systems that are aerodynamically efficient and reduce drag, that reduce wind noise, and that eliminate the need for longitudinal rails, otherwise known as side roof rack rails.
Conventionally, vehicular roof rack systems include two longitudinal side rails and at least one cross bar, all fixed to the roof of the applicable vehicle in a non-retractable fashion, that is, all rails are fixed and visible at all times. Variations of this conventional system include tubular structures in a variety of geometric configurations. While these current roof rack systems have proven to be satisfactory for their applications, advancing the relevant art remains desirable.