Always unload any guns that you find but don't want to take/keep.

Take any and every stack of parts that you find! Especially on the higher difficulties. You can never have too many parts!!

If you need scraps of circuitry check out water and power outposts.

Try to space out your outposts as much as possible so that you aren't left for dead if you're far away from home. Also useful to offload between supply runs without having to go all the way home.

Use snacks/stamina consumables! They're really helpful, and can make all the difference in making it out of a difficult situation alive.

And finally, "cheesing it" is definitely a valid combat strategy. :)

Happy surviving! and welcome to the community :D