A flat plate nose frame design for a tractor (5) in which a thick, flat structural plate (32) is connected to and forwardly extends from the conventional frame rails (21) of the tractor (5). The flat plate nose frame design increases vertical clearance under the hood without raising the hood height or reducing ground clearance. The nose plate (32) is contoured to match the exterior contours of the tractor grill (15) and hood (11) eliminating the need for a separate aesthetic component covering the nose plate. The nose plate (32) features a pair of vertically aligned short-height frame plates (26, 27) extending forwardly along the axis from the deep-section frame rails (21) to increase strength in the flat nose plate (32) without significantly increasing vertical height of the nose plate assembly. The flat plate nose frame is capable of withstanding operational loads as well as supporting a weight package or front-mounted implements. Additionally, a releasable connector (70) for a tow cable (90) common on large tractors may also be connected to and supported by the flat plate nose frame without adverse impact to its primary advantages.