I have 2013 fig plants promised to people when the weather cools off to mail them. But they're growing and growing and,  so my question is .. Should I bare root them and take off some of the big leaves, or wait until they are dormant and send them bareroot, .. should I be cutting them back now because they are getting too tall for USPS mailing tubes or should I cut the tops back when they are dormant ??
  
Thanks for any advice about these tall ones.

Yes
if you're going to bare root them, it's best if they're dormant. 

wait until dornant and you can trim back as well.  Gives you extra cuttings to give away and they still get a good plant ready to jump next spring

 Thanks you guys! 

or if the weather is cool, but not cold, just sent it 7 day mail in a big box. it still should be under $20.. unless it's like 6' tall. water well a day or two before shipping. let it drain, but still moist.

here is how i mailed a 5 footer the box was like $3.00 and $17.00 shipping USPS priority I tied the pot to the bottom of the box so the top of the tree would not get crushed if they flipped it over 

That looks GREAT!  and very adequate.     I received a tall fig yesterday in a 36' USPS tube  and the tube was broken in in the middle , like it had been bent at 90 degree. amazing the double truck tree was not broken but the leaves are toast! 

I shudder to remember how I packaged the first figs I sent.  They were secured but I bet the recipient was cussing me about the spider web of tape i wove to secure the plants inside the box.
Soni