You can choose to spend a pile of money on a roof rack if your car didn't already come with one, or you can spend a weekend with some PVC pipe and straps to build one yourself. A do-it-yourself roof rack might not look as slick and professional as a standard option, but it does the job and is much easier to remove than the built-in ones that come with a car.
PVC pipe (plastic pipe used for most modern plumbing) is cheap, sturdy and easy to find at your local home improvement center. Measure the roof of your car, then buy pieces to match the dimensions you need. Use elbow joints and t-joints to form the bends and extra struts you need for your rack.
You can use plumber's glue to seal the connections on your roof rack. However, in most cases simply dry assembly will be sturdy enough. This means you'll be able to disassemble and store your roof rack quickly and easily when you're not using it.
Cut a strip of foam rubber to match length with the outside edges of your PVC frame. Use foam rubber 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. You can glue this to the bottom of the frame, or let friction and pressure hold it in place. The foam rubber will allow you to cinch the frame down harder on the car, and greatly reduce road noise while on the go.
When it comes to the parts that actually tie your roof rack to your car, use parts made for the job. You could jerry-rig something together with climbing webbing and alligator clips, but the specialized parts are cheap enough and made specifically for the job you plan to use them for. If you have trouble finding roof rack ties, check auto parts and sporting goods stores.
