A ballast system for heavy equipment including a horizontal structure, the ballast system comprising: a ballast weight configured to be removably mounted, proximate to an end of a portion of the horizontal structure of the heavy equipment; at least one actuator mounted on the horizontal structure of the heavy equipment, the at least one actuator operable between a first position and a second position, and oriented to actuate horizontally along at least a portion of the horizontal structure; at least one tension member that connects the ballast weight to the actuator and is configured to move the ballast weight vertically in response to the at least one actuator actuating along at least a portion of the horizontal structure; and a locking mechanism configured to removably attach the ballast weight to the end portion of the horizontal structure, wherein the ballast weight comprises a fastening member, the fastening member further comprising a hook member, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a retractable retaining member operable between: a retaining position that engages the fastening member so as to hold the ballast weight to the end portion of the horizontal structure, and a releasing position that releases the fastening member so as to allow the ballast weight to be moved vertically, wherein the retractable retaining member comprises: a hanger pin moveable between the retaining position and the releasing position, and configured to engage the hook member in the retaining position; and a lock actuator configured to move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to bias the hanger pin toward the retaining position, and in that the lock actuator is configured to provide an actuating force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position. a ballast weight configured to be removably mounted, proximate to an end of a portion of the horizontal structure of the heavy equipment; at least one actuator mounted on the horizontal structure of the heavy equipment, the at least one actuator operable between a first position and a second position, and oriented to actuate horizontally along at least a portion of the horizontal structure; at least one tension member that connects the ballast weight to the actuator and is configured to move the ballast weight vertically in response to the at least one actuator actuating along at least a portion of the horizontal structure; and a locking mechanism configured to removably attach the ballast weight to the end portion of the horizontal structure, wherein the ballast weight comprises a fastening member, the fastening member further comprising a hook member, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a retractable retaining member operable between: a retaining position that engages the fastening member so as to hold the ballast weight to the end portion of the horizontal structure, and a releasing position that releases the fastening member so as to allow the ballast weight to be moved vertically, wherein the retractable retaining member comprises: a hanger pin moveable between the retaining position and the releasing position, and configured to engage the hook member in the retaining position; and a lock actuator configured to move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to bias the hanger pin toward the retaining position, and in that the lock actuator is configured to provide an actuating force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position. a retaining position that engages the fastening member so as to hold the ballast weight to the end portion of the horizontal structure, and a releasing position that releases the fastening member so as to allow the ballast weight to be moved vertically, wherein the retractable retaining member comprises: a hanger pin moveable between the retaining position and the releasing position, and configured to engage the hook member in the retaining position; and a lock actuator configured to move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to bias the hanger pin toward the retaining position, and in that the lock actuator is configured to provide an actuating force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position. a hanger pin moveable between the retaining position and the releasing position, and configured to engage the hook member in the retaining position; and a lock actuator configured to move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to bias the hanger pin toward the retaining position, and in that the lock actuator is configured to provide an actuating force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and move the hanger pin between the retaining position and the releasing position.