Abstract: A counterweight system for a lift-type vehicle, which includes a lifting arrangement for lifting a load at one end of the vehicle, includes a counterweight compartment located at an opposite end of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a set of ground-engaging wheels, and the lifting arrangement is located on one side of the set of wheels and the counterweight compartment is located on the other side of the set of wheels. The lifting arrangement includes a boom assembly mounted for pivoting movement between a pair of uprights located toward the same end of the vehicle as the counterweight compartment. The uprights are constructed to provide a first amount of counterweight to the vehicle, to provide a first lifting capacity for the vehicle. The counterweight compartment is located between the uprights, and one or two counterweights can be received within the counterweight compartment.