Winch mounting height

[doorman]

Just bought a gooseneck trailer for tractor hauling and I'm going to install a 12,000# winch on the uprights for the hitch. How high above trailer bed should I mount the winch? Any help will be appreciated.
 

[Jim in Ma.]

I mounted mine High and it works great. If I want to lower the cable I use a snatch block down on the deck.
 

[ericlb]

the best all around will be half to 3/4 to the top of the goosneck frame, assuming the frame will take the stress of a hard pull, you may want to install kickers from it to the main frame for bracing, too low, and the winch cable will be likely to cut into the rear of the trailer as it pulls under load,depending on the rear design of your trailer, straight tail, as opposed to a dovetail too high and as the load approaches the front of the trailer it will actually be trying to lift the front of the load up which may make it unstable,
 

[scotc]

If you mounted it lower you could also put a roller in the deck where it breaks over off the flat.
 

[Nebraska Kirk]

I mounted mine roughly 6-8 inches above the deck. It works pretty good for me as I have frequently had to winch two tractors onto my trailer. After the first tractor on is on, I just run the cable under it to winch the second one on. I also welded a ring to the deck directly under the winch for hooking the cable to when using a snatch block. I have had to use a double line and snatch block a few times, but then my winch is only 9K.
 

[Dean Olson]

I mounted mine high. About 36" above the deck in between the 12" I beam frame rails. It keeps the cable from dragging on the break over point at the dove tail.

I didn't lose an deck space and can drag multiple implements/tractors on as the winch is never blocked.