2001 having unknown startup problems

my dad has a 2001 ford f-150 supercrew 5.4 L 2wd. One day his truck wouldn't startup, it seemed like the battery was just dead so we jumped it with my truck and it ran fine. but since then it has had trouble starting up, it sounds like it wont turn over, but then it starts to. once it starts up all the gauges drop all the way, then go all the way in the clockwise direction, drop all the way again, and then go into working order. has anyone encountered this problem, what is it and what is the fix. any help is appreciated