Shrinking floor area while increasing cage height - Pituophis spp.

I'm modifying 2 entertainment centers into a pair multi-unit cages; they are both 36"x18"x60". This is an excellent size for all of my male ball pythons, baby het pied pair, Baird's ratsnake, and special needs boa constrictor (He is missing an eye, shows a neurological balance problem, and does not grow like he should). This multi unit caging is intended to get my pets still using tubs into main family living areas where we can see them and enjoy watching them.

The one wild card here is I have a Baja gopher snake, Pituophis vertebralis. He's a medium activity snake and 5.5 feet long; I feel he should have more access to climbing than his tub provides even though the tub has a greater floor area. Caresheets for these snakes often state a 24x48 inch footprint cage is ideal; my question is whether or not it's appropriate to use a smaller cage footprint if the cage is made taller and has basking shelves+climbing branches?