When I did this (young, learning, my formative years in timber framing) we had a crew of 4-6. 2 skilled. 2 laborers. 2 in between - carpenters or such.

Equipment really depends on what you are after, and what the job is. Sheathing? Roofing? Survey and save? Lots of variables. We did a lot with just willpower and young muscle. Always had a crane to lower bents.

Lots of straps, come alongs. Drill bits of every size and shape and length. Crow bars, levers, pipes, and then safety rigging and harnesses. For slate and siding work we had a lots of staging and scaffolding for the length of a typical barn (E Pa and W Nj and sometimes into MD and OH) - probably enough for 40' x 3 sets high.

And a tetanus booster. Rain gear. And lots of overalls. Tore up so many pair of Carharts in the 6 months I was focused on this type of work.

We hired out trucking / shipping / roll off dumpsters.


Good fun in my youth.