Since you can't get a car, and you're stuck with the truck let me give you my suggestions -
I don't follow my own advice, but I've tried this a few times for some incredibly good figures out of my F-150 (22-24 highway MPG)
Of course, mines newer and has the turbocharged engine, but that doesn't really seem to help much.
Anyway -
1. It's a big, very heavy vehicle with a large engine designed to pull a lot of weight behind it. The engine puts out way more power than you'll ever need empty. Push the gas pedal like there's an egg between your foot and the throttle.
2. Changing speeds in such a heavy vehicle will absolutely kill your fuel economy. Do whatever you can to safely maintain a single speed - for example, only accelerate to 15 MPH between stop signs in a residential area
3. Speed makes a HUGE difference on these trucks - at 45 MPH, drivers of the newer 2011 models are reporting over 25 MPG. At 55 MPH, I have personally seen 24 MPG. At 65 MPH - You'r lucky to break 20, and going over 70 it will be in the teens somewhere.
4. City driving is horrible on these vehicles. Remember what I said about being heavy. Plan your stops well in advance - you want to just barely be pushing the brakes when you coast to a stop at the stop signs, and sedately accelerate away from them.
And of course, I have to show mine off
14 MPG on the highway on the trip where I took this picture - perfectly acceptable to me since the truck was actually doing work. Also I might have been speeding. I'm not admitting to anything though!
