: Don't forget that if you can build your boat -- you can build your rack. A
: much stronger option (than the pool noodle) is Ross Leidy's (or is that
: Shawn Baker's -- I forgot) roof rack cradle. Now all those cut off and
: scraps come in handy.

I hear ya Tony !

the factory roof rack on my Pathfinder had a very short span so I took off the factory bars and utilized the stock mounting hardware .
made up a pair of contoured ash blocks to fit the roof at its forwardmost position and made two side rails from ash with pockets on the underside to accept the stock mounting clamps , made two crossrails from 3/4" x 2 3/4" ash
and mounted them to the side rails ..the sliding tilting thingy soon followed
it helps out for some people who are short for there weight.

Later
Bill