Roof rack assembly with stowable cross members

A roof rack assembly for a vehicle roof, comprising:

• a first and a second elongated roof rail substantially parallel with one another to define a transverse distance therebetween;
• a first cross member having a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion;
• wherein the first cross member is secured to the first roof rail at the first end portion and is configured to be pivotable at the first end portion from a stowed position to a use position;
• wherein the first cross member is nested within the first roof rail generally parallel therewith and selectively secured to the first roof rail at the second end portion in the stowed position;
• wherein the first cross member is selectively secured to the second roof rail at the second end portion and spans the transverse distance in the use position;
• a second cross member having a third end portion and a fourth end portion opposing the third end portion;
• wherein the second cross member is secured to the second roof rail at the third end portion diagonally across the roof from the first end portion of the first cross member and is configured to be pivotable at the third end portion from a stowed position to a use position;
• wherein the second cross member is nested within the second roof rail generally parallel therewith and selectively secured to the second roof rail at the fourth end portion in the stowed position;
• and wherein the second cross member is selectively secured to the first roof rail at the fourth end portion and spans the transverse distance in the use position, the cross members thereby being selectively stowable when not in use to limit aerodynamic drag.

A roof rack assembly for supporting cargo on a vehicle roof, comprising:

• a pair of elongated parallel roof rails spaced a distance from one another and configured to extend generally fore and aft on the vehicle roof,
• a pair of cross members each having opposing end portions;
• wherein each of the cross members is pivotably secured to a different one of the roof rails at a respective one of the end portions diagonally opposite the other of the cross members and is pivotable between a stowed position to avoid aerodynamic drag and a use position to support cargo;
• and wherein the cross members are configured to be substantially parallel with the roof rails and with one another in a stowed position;
• and substantially perpendicular to the roof rails and parallel with one another in the use position.