SurrounDead Guide
Warning, This beginner guide contains minor spoilers. IF you want to play without knowing anything about gameplay than I suggest you try the game without this and come back if you choose.
These are some of the things I struggled with when starting out in SurrounDead
Items
Once you have a weapon equipped you cannot drag a different weapon over the top and have them automatically swap. You must unequip the old weapon, or drop it on the ground, then equip the new weapon.
To store weapons and items more effectively use the R key to rotate items. Tetris minigame anyone?
Holding control while clicking will transfer items from a container to your inventory.
Containers store inside containers, seeming unlimited. but this can lead to possible performance problems and maybe changed in future development.
Gathering
You need a pickaxe to harvest rocks, they can also be found inside loot containers. You may also be able to gather rocks with a shovel, I did not have the chance to test that. 
You need a sledge hammer to harvest metal, and you need to use it on a burning vehicle. Currently there is no prompt to gather metal or rocks with the correct tool being held. Any vehicle that has the burnt out look and smoke coming from the hood will work, They are normally a good distance from each other.
Bases
Currently there is no way to destroy furniture in a base or building. Anything you place can be moved or destroyed but not the in-game default assets. Do not use loot containers for storage as their contents reset and you will loose the items.
Vehicles
You stand to the side of vehicle, (there is a prompt) to fill them with fuel, Vehicles that have storage have a storage prompt as well, and to repair the vehicles is done at the front of the vehicle. Vehicles mow down zombies quiet well but do take damage rather quickly. Use caution when exploring with a vehicle, more than once I died driving into an area at high speed, that had negative climate effects, causing my death before I could get back out.
Movement
You can climb fences!! Zombies not so much. Use this to escape when possible.
Melee
When fighting with a melee weapon do not use the crosshair to target, Make sure the bad guy is directly in front of your character.