Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low profile, highly aerodynamic swing-in-place style vehicle article carrier system for use on a wide variety of passenger cars and trucks. The system makes use of a pair of side rails that are used to support a pair of cross bars in stowed positions thereon where the cross bars are secured parallel to the side rails, or in operative positions where the cross bars are secured perpendicularly between the side rails. The side rails each incorporate a rotating end support subsystem which automatically elevates one end of its associated cross bar when the cross bar is moved pivotally into its operative position. This enables the cross bars to form a very low profile when in their stowed positions, but to be automatically raised a predetermined distance when moved into their operative positions, to thus provide additional clearance between the cross bars and an outer body surface of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system is disclosed for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system may incorporate at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface. The support rail may have a support foot portion at each of its opposite ends, with each support foot portion secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle. A sensor may be mounted on the at least one support rail or one of the support feet portions for sensing a characteristic within a field of view around the vehicle and providing related information to a subsystem of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telescoping step system which has at least one stringer assembly having telescopically coupled first and second tubular components. The second tubular component is telescopically extendable relative to the first tubular component. The stringer assembly is operably associated with a structure. The system further has at least one step assembly associated with one of the first and second tubular components. The stringer assembly is telescopically collapsible into a retracted position to form a compact assembly either adjacent to or within a portion of the structure, and extendable into an extended position extending outwardly from the structure. In the extended position the stringer assembly presents the step assembly as a platform which a user is able to step on to, and thus aids the user with ingress into and egress from the structure.