I admit I'm not the fastest gnome on the ground, but tried this quest several times and could never get above 12 collected before the time runs out. Is this meant to be a super difficult quest to complete?

It took me some practice (as a Templar we kill things slow anyway) lol. But I was able to complete it in dps spec, put my merc on follow and had her attack them so I could see the direction she runs off in.. Also if you don't click start quest, until you are at the end of the ramp, you gain a little time that way.

I'm having some issues with this one. I got one monkey in by placing it right next to the barrel, second and third I set in same range as first even under the barrel because I cannot place on top of the barrel. The barrel only seems to exist to get quest but isn't there for me to place monkeys on/in it. Small range of barrels spot to accept them would be fine or make the barrel a solid object to the monkeys so they don't escape...

Ok so after getting the barrel to accept more monkeys it disappeared and I and I had time left.