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Hi DeckSetter. First and foremost: Drive slow. Trucks have poor aerodynamic shapes, and wind resistance increases exponentially with speed. Keep at or below 55 and you'll see huge improvements.
A few easy mods:
1. yes, remove the mudflaps. Fast, easy and free.
2. Reduce weight: That fiberglass topper probably weighs over 200lbs; remove it when you don't absolutely need it. That said, the topper improves aerodynamics compared to an open bed. If you driving mostly fast highway speeds, you might not experience mileage gains after removal. Best of both worlds: lose the topper and maintain good aerodynamics with a light weight (vinyl instead of fiberglass) tonneau cover.
3. Redirect air so it does not go under your truck. The hard way is to lower it, the easy way is to take some black plastic garden edging and screw it on to the lower valance of your front bumper.
4. Heat the engine quicker. I can see by the bare trees you live in a cold climate. Add insulation to the underside of your hood. It will both heat up faster, and keep it warmer longer. Careful to not let the insulation touch anything that could make it start on fire~ I put a simple foam egg crate over the top of the engine bay. The only thing it touches is the air intake.
5. Free up horsepower: Haven't done this myself just yet, but consider an electric fan. Note that if you are idling a lot, e-fans actually use more energy and reduce mpg. But if your moving, they should improve matters.
6. Aerodynamics: Add a grill block. Careful of over heating if you combine 5 & 6. I got an aftermarket temp gauge so I could accurately monitor my engine temp.
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