There are five main types of boats that are commonly trailered: fishing boats (e.g., bass fishing boats), power boats (e.g., ski boats), sailboats, personal watercraft (e.g., Jet Skis), and self-propelled boats (such as canoes). There are over three dozen manufacturers of boat trailers selling in the US, so there are many different makes and models to choose from. Ideally, purchase of a new boat trailer should be coordinated with the purchase of the boat itself, so that the make and model matches the boat you will be trailering. Some common brand names of boat trailers are EZ-Loader, Loadrite, Shorelander, and Shoreline.

It's a truism of boating that boats are more likely to be damaged on the road than on the water. The process of caring for your boat on the road begins with using your boat trailer properly. When your boat is being towed, the hull ideally should be evenly supported, much as if it was resting on the water.

The boat trailer should be able to provide this structural support, as well as be long enough to support the whole length of the hull. The more evenly the boat trailer is able to distribute the weight of the hull, engine, and equipment being towed, the less wear and tear towing will place on the boat and the towing vehicle. A rule of thumb is that the weight on the trailer's tongue should be equivalent to about 10 percent of the total weight being towed.

Unevenly distributed weight can cause fishtailing, or even damage to the towing vehicle. The boat should be placed on the trailer so that the lower part of the boat's motor hangs from the rear without interference. Boat trailer buyers should make sure the trailer's capacity will meet or exceed the combined weight of everything to be towed, including anything inside the boat.

Also check that the tow vehicle is equipped to handle the load. In some cases, the trailer hitch may need to be attached to the frame of the towing vehicle rather than the bumper. It's often possible to buy a boat trailer at the same time as one buys a new or used boat. New and used boat trailers may also be purchased separately.