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French Aires: Prices, Services, How Long to Stay
Free or €30 for 24 hours, capped at 48 or 72 hours: what French RV aires offer, based on nine dated examples, from dump stations to apps.
Julien de Jurquet··15 min
Julien de Jurquet
Vans, RVs, biking and calculators
Julien de Jurquet writes for Outfarer about camper vans, RVs, biking, and calculators. He reads manuals cover to cover and never lets a number slide without its unit, so your choices rest on math, not promises.
The team’s numbers guy. Precise, a natural teacher and deadpan funny, Julien loves taking marketing numbers apart, turns any problem into a table and never lets an approximation slide, not even a teammate’s. He also keeps an eye on how we run our comparisons.
A spreadsheet for everything, grocery list included, a soft spot for old steel bikes, and one reflex he’ll end up passing on to you: checking whether a value is in W or Wh. With Outfarer since 2026.
On Outfarer, he covers camper vans and RVs, biking, onboard power, and calculators: sizing a battery or a solar panel, estimating range, comparing energy use, and understanding what the numbers on a spec sheet really mean. He builds the magazine’s tables and calculators, and makes sure every comparison rests on criteria announced up front.
His method: start from the manufacturer’s data, testing standards, and published studies, redo the math, and show every step so you can run it again with your own numbers. He always separates what is measured, what is claimed, and what is estimated, and prefers an honest range to a number too precise to be true.
He also keeps his tables up to date: when a standard changes, a manufacturer corrects a spec sheet, or a reader spots an inconsistency, the math is redone and the update date appears under the headline. A factual correction is always noted at the bottom of the page.
To suggest a topic or report a mistake, write to the editorial team from the contact page: we will pass your message along.
- Topics
- Camper vans and RVs, Off-grid power, Biking, Calculators, Comparison methods
- Languages
- French, English
Articles (26)
Camper Van Heat: Diesel, Propane, or Electric
Diesel, propane, or electric: fuel per night, house battery draw, noise, prices, certification, and carbon monoxide, to pick the right camper van heater.
Julien de Jurquet··14 min
Insulating a Camper Van Without Condensation
Lambda, R-value, thermal bridges, vapor barriers, condensation on bare steel: the numbers for choosing camper van insulation and keeping moisture out.
Julien de Jurquet··15 min
Camper Van Rental: Price, Deductible, Deposit
Advertised rates and the fees on top, deductibles from $750 to $3,000, deposits, credit card coverage, cancellation, the walk-around: what rental terms say.
Julien de Jurquet··17 min
Lumens, Lux, and the Law: Reading a Bike Light
No law we read mentions lumens: Germany counts in lux, France and Britain set color and mode, and US states set distances in feet. Here’s what to check first.
Julien de Jurquet··9 min
Camper Van Payload: Labels, Math, and Scales
Payload is the GVWR minus what the van weighs as delivered. What the yellow label counts, a worked example in pounds, how to weigh at a CAT Scale, axle limits.
Julien de Jurquet··13 min
Van Life for Beginners: Steps and Checklist
Van life for beginners: plan a first camper van trip in 9 steps, from title and license to weight, power, propane, where to sleep and winter. Checklist.
Julien de Jurquet··18 min
What Sold Secure, ART, and FUB Ratings Mean
Sold Secure, ART, FUB 2 roues: three European bike lock labels, what they measure, why their levels can’t be converted, and what insurers ask for.
Julien de Jurquet··10 min
Gear Ratios: How to Calculate Gear Inches
Chainring, cog, tire size: work out gear inches and meters of development, compare two drivetrains and choose gearing for hills or loaded touring.
Julien de Jurquet··11 min
Hiking Apps: Maps, Offline Use, and GPX
Gaia GPS, onX, CalTopo, AllTrails, Komoot and the free NPS and USGS maps compared: offline use, GPX and prices in dollars, from publisher pages, November 2026.
Julien de Jurquet··10 min
Hiking Time Calculator With Three Methods
Enter distance and elevation gain: the tool gives hiking time by the simple calculation, DIN 33466, and Naismith’s rule, plus where each one falls short.
Julien de Jurquet··10 min
Heart Rate: Three Ways to Set Your Zones
Max heart rate, Karvonen reserve or threshold: three ways to calculate your heart rate zones for trail running, with a worked example and each method’s limits.
Julien de Jurquet··10 min
What a Camper Van Really Costs per Year
A camper van costs about $13,100 to $15,200 a year to own and run, before finance, on AAA, EIA and listing data. Every line priced, with its source.
Julien de Jurquet··13 min
La Loire à Vélo: Stages and Logistics
La Loire à Vélo is 392 miles (631 km) from Cuffy to Saint-Brevin, France: the easy sections, miles per day, the train back, luggage transfers, and costs.
Julien de Jurquet··11 min
Backpacking Food: Amounts and a Simple Menu
How much food to pack for backpacking: about 4,500 calories a day for a 154-lb hiker, or 2.2 lb of dry food. Freeze-dried meals, water, fuel, and a menu.
Julien de Jurquet··16 min
Water and Food on a Hike: How Much You Need
How much water and food to bring on a day hike: at least 1.5 liters (about 1.6 quarts) each, more in the heat, and salty snacks at every break.
Julien de Jurquet··9 min
Surfboard Volume Calculator for Your Weight
Find your surfboard volume in liters from your weight and skill level: the tool, Firewire’s chart, Lost’s ranges, and where each one stops being reliable.
Julien de Jurquet··7 min
Bikepacking Gear List and How to Load Your Bike
Bikepacking: where each bag goes, how much it can carry according to the makers, the limits to check, the lights the law requires, and a printable gear list.
Julien de Jurquet··14 min
Van Solar: 200, 300, or 400 Watts?
What a solar panel lying flat on a van really produces, month by month from Phoenix to Seattle, according to PVWatts: 200, 300, or 400 W, and the battery.
Julien de Jurquet··12 min