ABOUT US
Matt Ruchong, the owner of Fat Rat Enterprises is one of those fortunate people who get to mix the love and passion for Off-Roading with work. In 2004 Matt opened his first shop in Humboldt. This is after Matt’s journeys with the US Olympic Shooting Team which took him around the world and also following graduation from the premier 4X4 auto academy in Wyoming.
Matt spent a couple years in Colorado playing, and honing his skills in this darn good, but cold, testing environment to try out the best equipment in some of the worst situations! Then about ten years ago, Matt loaded up and headed for his home territory, Humboldt CA, to open shop. After a few wildly successful years and with expansion looming, Fat Rat met the brick wall which rolled into town named, The Recession. Fat Rat quickly downsized a bit and weathered the worst of the storm in a smaller shop in Fortuna.
Smaller but not idle, the shop kept up a full routine of service and training. Matt's an active member of the Redwood Coast 4X4 club and on going training includes Matt and Nate (Fat Rat’s lead mechanic under Matt) attending Off-Roading and 4X4’s prestigious, not to mention way cool, event--the SEMA show/ convention in Las Vegas.
Every year Matt and Nate arrive back in Humboldt after SEMA with great new ideas, information on the latest new products and techniques, and ready to put that wrench to work. Last year Matt and Nate worked on creating a custom process for shaping and making their own bumpers and other cool stuff.
This year we are proud to announce, in November 2011 the opportunity for a larger space has once again opened up complete with a great space to implement a new paint booth to meet customer’s demands—Nate, a talented artist, graduate of the same famed Wyoming Academy, and just an all around great guy tow ork with, will be looking for those custom opportunities to detail out those special rides.
So for now we have once again moved back to Eureka and expect to be n full swing by December 1, 2011. So drop on by, see the new digs, and let’s talk about what we can do to make your play more fun, your work easier, and that old or new truck even prettier.
We are at 1103 Albee Street in Eureka, CA. Across from Broadway Cinema and SweetHeart Motors. Or just a few steps away from Hole in the Wall Sandwich Shop.
See you soon!