A flat plate nose frame design for a tractor in which a thick, flat structural plate is connected to and forwardly extends from the conventional frame rails of the tractor. The flat plate nose frame design increases vertical clearance under the hood without raising the hood height or reducing ground clearance. The nose plate is contoured to match the exterior contours of the tractor grill and hood eliminating the need for a separate aesthetic component covering the nose plate. The nose plate features a pair of vertically aligned short-height frame plates extending forwardly along the axis from the deep-section frame rails to increase strength in the flat nose plate 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 for a tow cable common on large tractors may also be connected to and supported by the flat plate nose frame without adverse impact to its primary advantages.