not sure where to post this question, mods please move it to an appropriate place

when transporting fishing rods several hundred miles, (example: San Antonio to Big Shell) is it safe to transport upright or is that way

does it put undo stress on the pole (from whipping in the 70+ MPH wind)
plus added chances of bug splatter?
I built a more horizontal carrier to keep them mostly out of the wind, but it doesn't look as pretty and simple as many upright carriers
P.S. my bed isn't long enough to just lay them in.

Transporting them upright and exposed is begging for disaster. The rods receive bug strikes and rock strikes (and on special occasions, bird strikes), and the reels are constantly blasted with road grime. Funny story: a friend and I were fishing the white bass run on the San Jac. We watched a guy in a pretty, jacked-up Superduty with monster tires pull his airboat out and take off up the road with his rods -- all long rods adorned with saltwater popping corks -- standing tall across the bow in his rod holders. A tree that he drove under snatched a couple of them out of the rod holders, and he never saw it happen. He just drove on, proudly displaying two rods less than he thought he had to the admiring public. I have seen guys driving down the highway with unprotected rods arrayed across the grilles on their trucks, obviously proud of the rod holders mounted across their front bumper. I always wonder how long those rods will last.............

Lay them down in the bed of the trk. Trees are not your friend...been there

Invest about $10 in a DIY rod carrier made out of PVC.

I remember as a kid, pedaling my bicycle down Old Cutler Road to Biscayne Bay, clutching my fly rod. I had just crossed over Snapper Creek, and a car going by threw a rock with one of its tires. The rock hit my rod, which promptly collapsed. Talk about a broken-hearted kid............

DIY PVC pipe is the way to go. I use the screw ends and a pool noodle works great.

Lay them down in the bed of the truck. It is ok if the stick over the tailgate. I have been doing this for years. Biggest thing is to remember to always have the reels pointed into the wind. If not the wind will catch the rod tip and flip it out.

For the last few years I've been rolling the rods up in an old army blanket, lay one down long ways, roll the blanket over it to protect it and the reels from scratching each other up, then the next. Then bungees around each and I have a rod burrito for the road trip. Really seems to be making a difference, I've never had rods and reels last so long in such good shape.

Make sure the wind won't pick them out of the truck. Had it happen with my rods laying in the boat. I keep them inside now and transfer to the boat in the ramp parking lot.

well my previous DIY (I had built) rod holder worked great, but with my 5' bed having so little room
I decided to maximize it by putting the rods on top of my gear storage trunk

Large pvc tube capped. Remove reels and put rods into sleeve protectors. I took 4-6 rods for years and years to the coast this way strapped to the top of the pickup and minivan. Tape the end caps on and pull off upon arrival. Very simple and inexpensive.