A tractor chassis (8, 9) with relative forward and opposing rearward ends defining a longitudinal travel axis, the chassis (8, 9) comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart, forwardly, longitudinally extending frame rails disposed above and generally parallel to the ground, each frame rail having a rail height defined by upper and lower edges (23, 24) and a terminal end, a cooling package supported by the chassis (8, 9), a hood disposed above and covering the cooling package, a forward-facing grill disposed forward of the cooling package and having an interface contour, whereby the chassis (8, 9) further comprises a support structure comprising: - a pair of transition frames extending forwardly from the frame rail terminal ends to a connection location generally aligned with the lower edge of the frame rails; - a generally planar nose plate having opposing first and second surfaces, a rearward end for connection to said transition frames at said connection location, and a generally opposing forward end, said rearward end spanning laterally between said transition frames and said nose plate forwardly extending from said connection location generally adjacent to a line extending along said lower edge thereby increasing underhood clearance without increasing the hood height above the ground or substantially decreasing ground clearance, said forward end having a contoured edge, said nose plate further having an interface connection with the grill, said nose plate contoured edge and the grill interface contour being generally visually matched; - a reinforcement plate having opposing side edges and forwardly connected to said first surface of said nose plate along a lateral line rearwardly displaced from said forward end a distance sufficient to enable connection of an implement to said nose plate first surface, said nose plate alone comprising the forwardmost portion of the chassis (8, 9), said reinforcement plate having a rearward portion spaced apart from said nose plate in a manner defining a volume therebetween, said reinforcement plate configured to increase strength of said nose plate; and - said pair of transition frames further comprise each a pair of gusset plates (26, 27) extending along and generally perpendicular to said side edges and connected to said first surface in a manner enclosing said volume and strengthening said nose plate; characterized in that: said implement is a bumper configured for connection to said nose plate first surface adjacent to said forward end, said bumper having a forward portion spaced apart and forwardly disposed from said forward end contoured edge and a skid portion extending rearwardly from said forward portion and disposed adjacently below said reinforcement plate. - a pair of transition frames extending forwardly from the frame rail terminal ends to a connection location generally aligned with the lower edge of the frame rails; - a generally planar nose plate having opposing first and second surfaces, a rearward end for connection to said transition frames at said connection location, and a generally opposing forward end, said rearward end spanning laterally between said transition frames and said nose plate forwardly extending from said connection location generally adjacent to a line extending along said lower edge thereby increasing underhood clearance without increasing the hood height above the ground or substantially decreasing ground clearance, said forward end having a contoured edge, said nose plate further having an interface connection with the grill, said nose plate contoured edge and the grill interface contour being generally visually matched; - a reinforcement plate having opposing side edges and forwardly connected to said first surface of said nose plate along a lateral line rearwardly displaced from said forward end a distance sufficient to enable connection of an implement to said nose plate first surface, said nose plate alone comprising the forwardmost portion of the chassis (8, 9), said reinforcement plate having a rearward portion spaced apart from said nose plate in a manner defining a volume therebetween, said reinforcement plate configured to increase strength of said nose plate; and - said pair of transition frames further comprise each a pair of gusset plates (26, 27) extending along and generally perpendicular to said side edges and connected to said first surface in a manner enclosing said volume and strengthening said nose plate; said implement is a bumper configured for connection to said nose plate first surface adjacent to said forward end, said bumper having a forward portion spaced apart and forwardly disposed from said forward end contoured edge and a skid portion extending rearwardly from said forward portion and disposed adjacently below said reinforcement plate.