A roof rack assembly is provided for storing items above a roof of a motor
vehicle. The roof rack assembly includes a pair of rails fixedly secured
to the roof, parallel to each other. Each of the rails has a channel
therealong. A tray includes a first end slidingly engaging the channel
and a second end. The tray is movable between a storage position above
the roof and a loading position along the side of the motor vehicle. A
pair of pivot arms extends between a receiving end and a pivot end. The
receiving end is pivotally coupled to the second end of the tray. A pair
of mounting brackets are fixedly secured to the side of the motor vehicle
and pivotally coupled to the pivot arms at the pivot end thereof. Each of
the mounting brackets includes a stop for limiting pivotal movement of
the pivot arms as the tray moves from the storage position to the loading
position in order to maintain the tray in the loading position.