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expiredearthdogmonster posted Dec 07, 2025 11:41 AM
expiredearthdogmonster posted Dec 07, 2025 11:41 AM

Costco Members: Firman 2900W / 3200W Peak Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter Generator

+ Free Shipping

$300

$600

50% off
Costco Wholesale
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Deal Details
Costco Wholesale has for Members: Firman 2900W Running / 3200W Peak Electric Start Dual Fuel Powered Inverter Generator (WH02942F) for $299.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member Cwhomer for finding this deal.
  • Note: Please see the original post for additional deals & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Product Details:
  • The Firman WH02942 is a portable, RV-ready generator designed for quiet, efficient power on the go. With 3,200 starting watts and 2,900 running watts on gasoline, or 2,900 starting watts and 2,600 running watts on propane, it gives you flexibility and reliability in any situation.
  • 171 cc dual fuel engine with low oil shut off and cast iron sleeve
  • 1.8 gallon tank provides 9 hours of runtime. Propane tank not included
  • RV ready multi feature control panel with covered outlets
  • 5.5" Heavy Duty Never-Flat wheels and High Leverage U-shape Folding Handle
  • Largest tank in industry with extended run-time (less re-fueling).
  • Quiet muffler (Whisper Series) with USDA FS certified spark arrester.
  • 3-in-1 Data-Minder monitors running hours, voltage and frequency in conjunction.
  • Bonus accessories including engine oil, oil funnel, tool kit, battery float charger, LPG regulator/hose and battery charge cable.
  • Included battery for your convenience.
  • Limited lifetime warranty.

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • Offer valid from 12/7/25 through 12/13/25, while supplies last.
  • If you don't have a Costco Warehouse Membership, you can sign-up here.
  • Our research indicates that this deal is $150 less (33% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $449.99 for Certified Refurbished units at the time of this posting.

Original Post

Written by earthdogmonster
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Costco Wholesale has for Members: Firman 2900W Running / 3200W Peak Electric Start Dual Fuel Powered Inverter Generator (WH02942F) for $299.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member Cwhomer for finding this deal.
  • Note: Please see the original post for additional deals & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Product Details:
  • The Firman WH02942 is a portable, RV-ready generator designed for quiet, efficient power on the go. With 3,200 starting watts and 2,900 running watts on gasoline, or 2,900 starting watts and 2,600 running watts on propane, it gives you flexibility and reliability in any situation.
  • 171 cc dual fuel engine with low oil shut off and cast iron sleeve
  • 1.8 gallon tank provides 9 hours of runtime. Propane tank not included
  • RV ready multi feature control panel with covered outlets
  • 5.5" Heavy Duty Never-Flat wheels and High Leverage U-shape Folding Handle
  • Largest tank in industry with extended run-time (less re-fueling).
  • Quiet muffler (Whisper Series) with USDA FS certified spark arrester.
  • 3-in-1 Data-Minder monitors running hours, voltage and frequency in conjunction.
  • Bonus accessories including engine oil, oil funnel, tool kit, battery float charger, LPG regulator/hose and battery charge cable.
  • Included battery for your convenience.
  • Limited lifetime warranty.

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • Offer valid from 12/7/25 through 12/13/25, while supplies last.
  • If you don't have a Costco Warehouse Membership, you can sign-up here.
  • Our research indicates that this deal is $150 less (33% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $449.99 for Certified Refurbished units at the time of this posting.

Original Post

Written by earthdogmonster

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Top Comments

whodiini
1677 Posts
387 Reputation
I have owned this for several years. The positive is that it is extremely reliable and works well. The negative is that it is tricky to start, so it took me some time to figure out the subtleties of starting. I suspect the negative reviews all have to do with people who havent spent the time to understand this part. For those people, I would recommend a battery supply. I use propane because it runs cleaner. I dont use it except for extended power failures.

So here are the subtleties in starting it. First the battery dies if connected up and unused for a while. You need to connect it up to test it at the beginning and it requires you to open the front panel. So what I did was to remove the battery and replace the leads with RV type leads. Then make a connector with RV type leads to the spade leads of a battery, which I keep charged by using it in a UPS. You absolutely need a live battery to start with propane because the valve on the propane gas connection is electrically powered, which you need to plug into the front panel once the battery is connected. Second, the manual pull start only works with gas and not propane WITH A DEAD BATTERY, so there is no other option if you want to run with propane and your battery is dead. As a poster pointed out, pull start works if your battery is not dead, but electric start also works if your battery is not dead. Once I did that, it starts like a champ whenever I need it. BTW, removing the battery and replacing it is a pain, which is why I used the external connection - dont need to remove the front panel to connect and disconnect the battery between uses.

My extended backup plan for now is a battery backup to run a refrigerator and microwave, network and computer, plus TV and a few lights for several hours. Then if it goes beyond that, use the generator to recharge the battery backups, since that only takes an hour to recharge then.. In the future, I may just get a transfer switch for a few circuits in the house and the heater. My current strategy works fine in the summer and around a day in the winter. After a day in winter, it starts getting pretty chilly at night, which is why a transfer switch is in the future.
FloridaKevin
590 Posts
177 Reputation
Seriously, read those reviews. Those people seem very incompetent, one review says they "hired two guys to unpack it, set it up and get it started and NOTHING!" I feel sorry for this company since they are getting a bad representation of this generator. The main issues seem to be with the units arriving with dead batteries or an oil leak. While those are very important issues, it seems the complainers are simply used to everything working 100% when in reality, a generator that is this mass produced is bound to ha e some issues, that's what the warranty is for.
beckfiveoh
63 Posts
26 Reputation
Propane is stable indefinitely and it doesn't carry the same issue of potentially gunking up a carburetor if fuel is left in the generator for extended periods of time. There is a reduction of output power with propane however, as it's labeled on the generator as to what to roughly expect on gasoline vs. propane.

161 Comments

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Dec 07, 2025 02:46 PM
10,674 Posts
Joined Apr 2006
MAK1981Dec 07, 2025 02:46 PM
10,674 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank MAK1981

I have the 3242 model of this Firman, and it's been great. I only use propane because I don't want to deal with the stall gasoline and gumming up the internals like what killed my last one. But yeah, been happy with it for the past few years, and I leave it trickle charging so I don't get any surprises when I need to actually use it.
1
Dec 07, 2025 02:50 PM
321 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
ralyk4Dec 07, 2025 02:50 PM
321 Posts
Old model with lots of bad reviews. It is a great price compared to the current model if you are up for the risk and the possibility of having to contact the company for parts.
Current model:
https://www.costco.com/p/-/firman...ue&nf=true
1
Dec 07, 2025 03:03 PM
855 Posts
Joined Jan 2009
HkxyzDec 07, 2025 03:03 PM
855 Posts
Mine has been solid, only running it with propane
Dec 07, 2025 03:33 PM
2,715 Posts
Joined Aug 2017
iLikeMildDec 07, 2025 03:33 PM
2,715 Posts
Good when the battery isn't dead. I got it started with a spare UPS battery with the similar specs to get it started but won't fit into the battery compartment so I eventually should get a replacement. I only use propane so I don't have to deal with the extra maintenance when using gas. Great price.
Dec 07, 2025 03:34 PM
45 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
ThebudmanDec 07, 2025 03:34 PM
45 Posts
This looks like the same one I bought used off Amazon a few years ago. I have 4 generators and this one is a great generator and I have no complaints. You have to plug in the battery when you add oil. If not, your battery will not work and you might think it is dead.
1
Dec 07, 2025 03:35 PM
917 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
DoctorAwesomeDec 07, 2025 03:35 PM
917 Posts
Quote from fongch :
What's the intended use of this?
To use in an RV, camper, or, job site, glamping, etc. I have the 4000W refurb that was posted on here last year and have used it a few times for where I needed power to do something (tools) and used it once for keeping a couple of refrigerators and freezers running during a power outage over the summer.
Dec 07, 2025 03:36 PM
917 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
DoctorAwesomeDec 07, 2025 03:36 PM
917 Posts
Quote from TruongKy :
is it low noise?
As generators go this one is very quiet. This is a closed frame generator with rubber insulation on the service door to keep sound down even further.

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Dec 07, 2025 03:40 PM
1,585 Posts
Joined May 2006
-NSX-Dec 07, 2025 03:40 PM
1,585 Posts
Quote from iLikeMild :
Good when the battery isn't dead. I got it started with a spare UPS battery with the similar specs to get it started but won't fit into the battery compartment so I eventually should get a replacement. I only use propane so I don't have to deal with the extra maintenance when using gas. Great price.
Does yours have ring terminals or faston terminals? I've got one w/ ring terminals and it seems to be almost impossible to find an aftermarket battery that has that type of terminal, let alone one the size the generator needs.
Dec 07, 2025 03:41 PM
590 Posts
Joined Dec 2014
FloridaKevinDec 07, 2025 03:41 PM
590 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank FloridaKevin

Quote from jeba9999 :
Repost..... Sort the reviews on Costco website by date.... The reviews are not promising
Seriously, read those reviews. Those people seem very incompetent, one review says they "hired two guys to unpack it, set it up and get it started and NOTHING!" I feel sorry for this company since they are getting a bad representation of this generator. The main issues seem to be with the units arriving with dead batteries or an oil leak. While those are very important issues, it seems the complainers are simply used to everything working 100% when in reality, a generator that is this mass produced is bound to ha e some issues, that's what the warranty is for.
1
1
2
Dec 07, 2025 03:44 PM
2,715 Posts
Joined Aug 2017
iLikeMildDec 07, 2025 03:44 PM
2,715 Posts
Quote from -NSX- :
Does yours have ring terminals or faston terminals? I've got one w/ ring terminals and it seems to be almost impossible to find an aftermarket battery that has that type of terminal, let alone one the size the generator needs.

I think it's fastened and the terminals are unique…. I just secured it to the terminals to get it started and then moved the battery off the terminals. It didn't need to be connected after start. Not ideal long term but I'll probably make it work long term unless I find a great deal on the battery. I should take note of the battery model to know what I'm looking for. 🫠
Dec 07, 2025 03:46 PM
522 Posts
Joined May 2008
MobstrDec 07, 2025 03:46 PM
522 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Mobstr

Quote from pthomas11 :
Does anyone have this? Was going to bite but recent reviews make it seem like they are 3-4 year old units with reliability issues.
I have this and it is great for our camper will run A/C no problem but not A/C and microwave same time
1
Dec 07, 2025 03:47 PM
1,585 Posts
Joined May 2006
-NSX-Dec 07, 2025 03:47 PM
1,585 Posts
Quote from iLikeMild :

I think it's fastened and the terminals are unique…. I just secured it to the terminals to get it started and then moved the battery off the terminals. It didn't need to be connected after start. Not ideal long term but I'll probably make it work long term unless I find a great deal on the battery. I should take note of the battery model to know what I'm looking for. 🫠
Gotcha, the one in mine claims its a YTX5L-BS, but the problem is the dimensions don't match any aftermarket battery w/ that model, so odd.
Dec 07, 2025 03:49 PM
72 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
dzttDec 07, 2025 03:49 PM
72 Posts
Have one of these this is a super good deal. Have kept my fridge and freezer running during power outages
Pro
Dec 07, 2025 03:49 PM
447 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
Drumbic
Pro
Dec 07, 2025 03:49 PM
447 Posts
I have the WH03242 version that has been solid for me the last several years on propane.

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Dec 07, 2025 03:56 PM
8,857 Posts
Joined Mar 2018
WooHoo2YouDec 07, 2025 03:56 PM
8,857 Posts
Quote from pthomas11 :
Does anyone have this? Was going to bite but recent reviews make it seem like they are 3-4 year old units with reliability issues.
I did see two reviews complained they received a 2021 unit (which makes me wonder if that is the last model revision, not date of manufacturer) however nice thing about Costco is they have an absurdly open ended return policy.

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