Whole Hog on a Shirley

If I had intentions on hog butterflied, Id def go 30" Even the small hogs Ive cooked (125-100) are wider than 30 butterflied.

70 is plenty of length

I was told 125. I had no way to verify the weight

for reference, this was the pig and the rack is 28" wide

Yea, I don't think it would fit on the 24. You will want 30 for butterflied. You will have 7-8" clearance between the bottom and top rack with standard cabinet doors. I would determine how much height you need and tell Paul that. He can build the racks at whatever distance you need.

If I were going to do butterflied hogs of the size you mentioned... I would go 30 inch straight back.. If you need extra height talk to Tyler but the 30 inch should get you there.. Remember we are custom builders so that means as long as it does not screw the integrity of the pit up as far as performance... We will do it....

For scale purposes.....this is a 42#er on a 24x48. Started out butterflied. I chopped too deep in the spine and it wouldn't hold my liquids, so I tied the hind legs together. After about 3 hrs. the legs firmed up and stayed that way for the remainder of the cook. This is the first time I ever had to 'present' a pig, 'racer' style. But it turned out great for me because turning/flipping it was way easier than trying to flip it butterflied and not have it separate in various places. Turns out, it fit perfectly into a steam pan so that I could continue to keep moisture into the cavity. A much larger pig would've fit, but I could not have had the fire in the pit as you see....I would've used my firebox instead. I had time and travel logistics to work out, so I cooked it hot and fast with fire in the main chamber.

For the record....I have had a 120#+ on my 30" pit.....butterflied, and had room to spare. Although the legs were touching the side and door when closed....eventually the skin will tighten up and the legs will draw up a bit. It's only an issue in the beginning.

Here are (2) 75#ers i did on my 24x70 Shirley with PLENTY of room left. They came out great with the help of all the great Bretherns on here.. Smoking em is a breeze (on the Shirley anyway)

The top 1 was mine , the bottom 1 was a friends. He cramed it into a cooler with ice over night. I got tired of assin around with his pig and said fark this, and threw it in there as is... lol..

2nd pig got no love. LOL!!!!!!