Best way to break or lose an expensive rod

I put some almost brand new rods and reels in a trailer loaded with kayaks coming back from a lake once. Got back and a TFO 7' Ultra light with Shimano carbon fiber reel were missing. Went back retracing route. Never found. Presume someone found them along the road.

Bit the bullet and replaced that rod and reel with another just like it. Put it and some other expensive combos in back seat of truck sticking out window for quick trip to local pond. Going down the road, I reflexively hit the button to raise the window. Great way to break the ends off several expensive rods at once.

Currently still a little afraid to buy more expensive rods.

Whst are the best ways you've experienced?

Window here.
And drove over one..
Caught a Pickle fish... tip break. I don't buy that brand anymore, not even the catfish model. ...$30 to 40 rods, sooo....

Years ago , owned a hatchback. Didn’t check to make sure the rod tip was all the way in before closing the rear . My favorite, at the time, five foot UL became 6” shorter . Never fished the same.
It happens!

In the dark shut them in the tailgate .

While fishing I hooked a Buffalo fish and put my hand above the cork grip onto the rod itself pulling back for better leverage and rod broke just above where I had placed my hand. Rod was under warranty and was fixed but there was a list of things not to do and this was at the top of the list. Broke another rod doing the same thing before I learned my lesson.

Broke a favorite when the rod slid down the gunnel a bit and the rod tip stopped right under an anchor cleat. That was just before the float danced and I snatched up the rod quick to set the hook.

Lessons learned the hard way. I have foolishly broken a number of tips trying to horse a lure ou5 of a tree. The lesson: hold the rod straight at the branch and pull straight until it comes free or the line breaks.
Bob

The lid on the rod box claimed one of mine once. Took a good fly rod away from me that time. I built its replacement.

I used to bass fish mostly. People made fun of my hook sets. Broke 3 rods hook setting. Caught all 3 fish though.

:hesaid