When I was using Thunar 1.0.1 or 1.2.3, I recall that when I was renaming a folder (while being in this folder) via Properties dialog, Thunar kept showing the contents as seen before the action of renaming.  Since I used Thunar 1.4.0 I have notices that Thunar will show an empty directory and I am required to go back (Alt+Left) and forward (Alt+Right) in order to see items, again.