Chrysler aerodynamic "stow 'n' go" roof racks

[MetroMPG]

Some friends recently got a Chrysler minivan, and I noticed it has pretty clever stowable crossbars:







The bars stow in the rails themselves.

And extra clever bonus points: no tools required!

I didn't get a side shot, but they rails are fairly low - profile.

I also noticed if you wanted to take the rail off completely, the nuts are easily accessible.

[MobilOne]

That's neat. Thanks

[Hersbird]

They are great. Even better then a rack with the bars removed as they are much lower profile when stored. Then they are always there if you do need them. When we got our van used I was thinking there was something missing, I thought maybe the knobs were to remove the rails so it tried but instead found the crossbars.

[Fat Charlie]

As an added bonus, they've got slots in the verticals to run a strap through and along the bottom. It's easy to use and solid.

[freebeard]

So the rail pivots 90°? Overall shape is square?

If you lay a level or straightedge on it, how much crown side to side? Front to back?

My neighbors park a Saturn coupe right outside my window. I notice the bottom of all the windows lies in a plane. (There is a little crown in the hood to hide the wipers) It occurs to me you could cut the top off one and graft it into the roof of a box van or short bus and have a teardrop bubble top. With a sunroof.

[Fat Charlie]

The crossrails are removable and stow in place, embedded in the side rails. They don't add any frontal area when stowed, except maybe the wing nuts.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by freebeard

So the rail pivots 90°? Overall shape is square?

It's not quite square. The distance between the anchor points athwartships is slightly less than the measurement fore & aft. Because the "feet" of the crossbars are bent/angled down when in use and then made straight out for stowing.