Yes the footprint should be the same either way round. But the rope has to come off the bottom of the drum. As you have it now, the rope is coming off the bottom but it's back to front. Now, you can't just turn it round. You have to know which way it's SUPPOSED to be wound. The winch actually looks like it should go that way. Typically, winches sit the same way round with the motor where it is now. But unless you spool off and see which way the rope lies, it could be on backwards. So what? Ahh well that's the important bit. The winch has a brake inside and that only works one way. If you have the rope on backwards, the winch won't hold a load. So there are two things to consider, rope on right way round and winch facing the right way for the rope to come off the bottom out the front of the winch tray. Yes the free spool clutch is there so you can pull cable off easily