Thanks for the input. Aussie Iron, I'll put it behind me and enjoy my canter when I get my differential back! still waiting on parts. Also I don't want to blow up another one so understanding why this happened is important to me. If the tires were the cause which sounds more and more likely, then I'll be sure and not run in 4x4 at all until I get some new rubber under this thing.
I changed fluid in the transmission and rear diff right after this happened, before leaving Wyoming. The rear diff fluid seemed clean and the transmission fluid had some shavings on the magnet but no chunks. I just re-did the transmission fluid(just couldn't remember if I had been able to find GL-4 or had gone w/ a dual rated fluid and wanted to replace with GL-4 since it sounds like syncros are a weak point in these) yesterday as well as the transfer case fluid. T-case fluid looked a bit heated and there were some fines on the magnet but nothing chunky. Very little play on front output while T-case is engaged so hopefully all is OK in there.