Patent ID: 8814015

Claim:
A cargo carrying system for mounting onto a cargo bed of a vehicle having a vehicle profile, comprising: a first substantially planar cross support including: a first vertical leg, a second vertical leg spaced from the first vertical leg, a first bracket securing the first vertical leg to a first lateral boundary of the cargo bed, the first bracket having a plurality of first alignment elements for adjusting the vertical alignment of the first vertical leg, a second bracket securing the second vertical leg to the second lateral boundary of the cargo bed, the second bracket having a plurality of alignment elements for adjusting the vertical alignment of the second vertical leg, a first coupler supported on the first vertical leg, the first coupler having a plurality of second alignment elements, and a central member adjustably extending between the first coupler vertical leg and the second coupler; a second substantially planar cross support spaced from the first cross support and defining a cargo compartment between the first and second cross supports; a connecting rod extending between the first cross support and the second cross support; and a cargo container supported by the connecting rod in the cargo compartment; wherein the plurality of first alignment elements and the plurality of second alignment elements cooperate to selectively conform the horizontal alignment of the central member, the vertical alignment of the first vertical leg, and the vertical alignment of the second vertical leg to define an exterior profile and an exterior footprint of the cargo carrying system that substantially aligns with the vehicle profile.