Looks like a sensor wire or something melted, or broke... all of a sudden the truck won't start until the third crank.



Located the offending part, it goes into the engine just above the oil cap (see image)




and on the other side appears to be attached to the black plate by the throttle body (see picture)

 

Also if possible, is the part all one piece? or does that plug/sensor actually come off? it turns a little but I don't want to really pull hard unless I know for sure it is meant to come off.

 

Looks like Mass air flow harness. It should unplug but the reason it takes so long to start (if it is the MAF which is pretty much the only thing in that area) is its not reading intake air temp which forces the computer to go into the fail tables before it sends enough fuel to start. If that is your fault you should be able to pull a code for it. Also when you get it started unplug the sensor at the filter box it should die instantly if it is working if not thats your problem.