A vehicle article carrier apparatus for securing articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a pair of low profile support rails fixedly secured generally parallel to one another on the outer body surface; a pair of cross bars configured to be coupled to the support rails in a stowed orientation extending parallel to the support rails, so as to be generally not visible from a side of the vehicle, and an operative orientation extending perpendicularly between the support rails and elevationally above the support rails for supporting articles thereon; each said cross bar including a pair of end supports for securing the cross bar to the support rails; each said end support including: a neck portion; a support element pivotally secured to the neck portion; characterized in that each of said end support further comprises a clamp element pivotally secured to the neck portion for assisting in clamping its associated said end support onto one of the support rails when its associated said cross bar is in the operative orientation; the clamp element further being held in a retracted position generally co-linear with the support element when the support element is positioned generally co-linear with the neck portion, and held in a recessed portion of the neck portion, to facilitate attachment of the end support to one of the support rails when being secured in the stowed orientation, the clamp element only being released from the recessed portion of the neck portion once the support element has been pivoted into an operative position non-parallel to the neck portion; and a fastening assembly carried by the support element for securing the clamp element in clamping engagement with its associated said support rail when the associated said support rail is in its operative orientation. a pair of low profile support rails fixedly secured generally parallel to one another on the outer body surface; a pair of cross bars configured to be coupled to the support rails in a stowed orientation extending parallel to the support rails, so as to be generally not visible from a side of the vehicle, and an operative orientation extending perpendicularly between the support rails and elevationally above the support rails for supporting articles thereon; each said cross bar including a pair of end supports for securing the cross bar to the support rails; each said end support including: a neck portion; a support element pivotally secured to the neck portion; a neck portion; a support element pivotally secured to the neck portion; each of said end support further comprises a clamp element pivotally secured to the neck portion for assisting in clamping its associated said end support onto one of the support rails when its associated said cross bar is in the operative orientation; the clamp element further being held in a retracted position generally co-linear with the support element when the support element is positioned generally co-linear with the neck portion, and held in a recessed portion of the neck portion, to facilitate attachment of the end support to one of the support rails when being secured in the stowed orientation, the clamp element only being released from the recessed portion of the neck portion once the support element has been pivoted into an operative position non-parallel to the neck portion; and a fastening assembly carried by the support element for securing the clamp element in clamping engagement with its associated said support rail when the associated said support rail is in its operative orientation.