A roof rail system for a vehicle includes a stanchion extending away from the vehicle surface. The stanchion has an exterior surface connected to leading and trailing surfaces, and an inboard surface spaced apart from the outboard surface and connected to the leading and trailing surfaces. The leading surface faces forward, the trailing surface faces rearward, the outboard surface faces outward and the inboard surface faces inward. The stanchion has a cargo attachment feature having a first and second opening connected by a first passage. One of the outboard surface and the leading surface defines the first opening, and one of the inboard surface and the trailing surface defines the second opening. A plug is disposed within the first passage and defines a second passage extending from a first flexible aperture at an outer portion of the plug to a second flexible aperture at an inner portion of the plug.