joebythebay,
  Well Sir, if you post a picture of your base plate components, we all might be better to help you. But, in the mean time, if you've got "removable tabs" like what's shown in the pics of before and after, and many  of us have those removable tabs, what's left on the front of your car/toad is way less intrusive and, a potential injury. 
 Below are pics of our present toad, an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4. The base plate(s) (there are two of them and are not connected) protrude very minutely, even viewed from a "birds eye view". I don't have a picture of the removable tabs in but, that's what it looks like with them out. 
Some vehicles/toads have a bit more protrusion with their base plate attachment points than ours do. So, if those attachment points are what you're referring to, there's not much that you can do about them. If you want to put tennis balls on them as a primary buffer to injury, that will suffice but, just how long they remain on there will be a test of security wherever you park. Good luck.
Scott