The dash gauges keep blowing fuses

A little over a week ago, a fuse to dashboard gauges blew upon starting the truck. I replaced it with an obviously old but working fuse. This fuse blew a few days later, was replaced with a new fuse. In the meantime, the truck was not starting as smoothly as it had in the past. This morning, after having driven the truck 7 miles, then turning it off.I tried starting it about 30 min. Later. The dash lights came on as usually, followed by a "click, click" and then no power at all. I turned off the ignition a d attempted again and still had no power to anything. The check engine lights was on, (until fuse was replaced), but it was on for something in the emissions that sits on top of the gas tank. The only other unusual thing was the gas gauge. It would register low fuel no matter how much gas was in it and as I drove, the gauge would eventually read correctly.