Article carrier for vehicle for supporting article adjacent vehicular lift gate

Roof rack for a motor vehicle for supporting items on its tailgate, having a tailgate and a bumper, the vehicle roof rack comprising: a tailgate latch connectable to the tailgate; a bumper hitch that can be attached to the bumper; a first link pivotally connectable at a first end to the roof support structure of the motor vehicle; a second link having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second link being pivotally coupled to a second end of said first link; and a locking assembly coupled to said second end of said second link, said locking assembly being operable in a closed position to couple said second link to the bumper latch and in an open position to release said bumper latch in response contact from said tailgate latch.